Finance Intern Review

It started out really rough and I didn't think I would get on with it at all. Something clicked after a month or so and I came out of my shell, now (currently 8 1/2 months in!) I have to say I enjoy every aspect of it. The people are kind and I have definitely made some friends here; they are a joy to work with.

We all have an understanding I am here to learn and so I am not kept on mindless processing for long. I know I am not as good at the day to day jobs that my colleagues do but if I have any suggestions (usually I.T. software shortcuts etc.) they are happy to hear them and take them on board.

My manager has an open door policy and we have a scheduled one-to-one meeting every month for a catchup. I work in a team and so have guidance from the team leader with whatever project I am struggling with. No question has gone ignored and the management seem happy to take time to explain things that may not be relevant to my job - more relevant to my interests/degree.

I've not had many periods of high stress, which can feel strange when everybody else has reporting to do at a month end. Deadlines for my major projects where given way in advance and so I had plenty of time to complete them. Equally I've never had nothing to do, barring my first month or so before I had access to the IT systems and was given my project. This time was mostly filled with training modules and helping out colleagues where I could.

Admittedly it felt like more than it probably was, at times where I had to send an email out to all employees it was proof read and input was taken from management. However, as they get to trust me more I have been given more roles that I see from start to finish and then report on so it's not like all of my work is repeated by a full time employee.

As I have not gotten past my placement I can only speculate. However I will say that I have gained practical business skills with a lot of Office software that I had previously only used in a schooling environment. I am a lot more confident with meeting new people now, and especially using the phone! It has been interesting to see concepts and "rules" taught in a classroom being actually applied in a business, something I will take on board through the remainder of my studies. All in all, everything I have learnt here has been invaluable to my development and I do not plan on forgetting any of it any time soon. Skills for Life!

The office I am in is split into "pens" and so I will comment on only our pen. Being fairly open with people sitting in sub teams has made asking questions very easy. A good mix of people with the occasional gossip (essential in an office!). Managers all sit close to the team in their offices with an open door policy. They make me happy.

The Internship is structured as part of a devlopment program including a Team Building activity day; a Presentations skills workshop; and a end of year Gala. This is all central for the whole of the UK which is very nice because it has allowed me to meet people of the same age, at the same company, but who do completely different things. As far as the day today, I am handed over to my line manager as are the other Interns to theirs. I personally like the mix of occasionally being an Intern and doing Intern development but ultimately working in a job role relevant to my future career plans. I have two points of contact if I ever need advice, one with my line manager and another with the HR team responsible for Interns. From my Job interview onwards my line manager informed me of projects planned for me and so they where not frantically looking for work to give me - something I was a little worried about! I'm only the second Intern in this team and I'm sure they will only learn from their past 2 years of experience.

My role is in Finance, and so all of the finance training I have received has been to enable me to do my job. I feel like aspects of this will be transferable should I choose to seek employment elsewhere. Outside of finance training I have received a workshop on presentation skills, a team building day that has really shown me how to break the ice, numerous comments and advice on how to word documents to their intended audience from my manager. A few things I have learnt on my own by nature of the job I do, such as confidence and telephone manner. Although this wasn't taught to me, I wouldn't be as good at it now if I hadn't had this opportunity.

Hopefully I've done enough to impress, I will apply to be apart of this company after I graduate. They run a graduate scheme as well and so there is a possibility to get onto that, which I have been told we are fast tracked through the early stages due to doing their Internship program.

In total in my city, this year Siemens has employed 14 Interns. We have attempted to go out as a group a few times but this has never really ended up being the big 14 Intern night out that we imagined. The company hasn't done anything to help with this, such as encourage us to all go out (and nor do I think they should, we are all adults!), and so we really only have ourselves to blame. There is room for improvement but in fairness the social scene is only going to happen if the people are up for it, and we are lucky in that there are 14 of us here and will be again in the future.

My placement is in the same city as my university and so I have no base to compare it to. For reference it is in Lincoln, UK and so make of that what you will. I am also from Lincolnshire and so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me, the wage more than covered the rent.

Barely partook, but it is the same city as my University and so fairly average.

I don't recall having the opportunity to do so, and I'm fairly certain I haven't done (apart from socialising during leaving parties etc.). Unless of course this is a question about the city and not activities with work outside of the workplace, in which case there are a fair few sports teams and societies with the Students Union.