I attended Destination CPA with PwC, an event for future interns, and overall I was really excited going in. It felt like a huge opportunity, and I was genuinely grateful to be there.
After the event, I received a follow-up email from a Partner I was in a group with. The message basically suggested that I came across as ungrateful for the opportunity and somewhat disengaged.
To be completely fair, there were a few sessions where I wasn’t as engaged as I could’ve been, and I probably could’ve been more intentional about how I presented myself. That said, I didn’t feel like my behavior was extreme or intentionally disrespectful, and I certainly don't think it warranted an email, essentially berating me.
The tone of the email felt stronger than I expected, especially coming after what I thought was a generally positive experience. I understand it was likely meant to be constructive, but the wording came across more pointed than I anticipated and left me a bit confused.
After thinking about it for a while, it made me question whether the culture would be the right fit for me long-term, and I ultimately decided to step away from the internship opportunity.
I’m still kind of conflicted about it. I understand these firms have high expectations and want people to be fully engaged, but the way the feedback was delivered didn’t sit right with me. It felt less like guidance and more like a reprimand.
Was I overreacting and walked away from a great opportunity, or does this come off as a potential red flag?