Intern Review

I cannot ask for a better internship! Thoroughly enjoyed every day of it. The work I do is very interesting and varied, so no two days are the same! My colleagues are very friendly, and tried to get me involved in everything. I have learnt a lot from this experience.

My colleagues were all very friendly. They were busy people, but they would always take the time to explain things to me whenever I needed guidance. I had also initiated meetings with various people form different departments, and everyone was very happy to take the time to meet me and tell me about their work.

My managers were very good at giving me support. My line manager spent a lot of time in the first couple of weeks teaching me things I needed to know so I could get up to speed as soon as possible. When I was involved in projects, my colleagues always took the time to make sure that I knew how to do the work I was asked to do, and the significance of my work.

I wasn't that busy in the first couple of weeks as I was just settling in; however I got involved in more projects after that and I would be occupied from 9 to 6 everyday. The amount of work was good as I felt accomplished but I could still have a work life balance.

I mostly supported my managers and colleagues with their work, but I also had my own project to complete, so I did have a fair amount of responsibility! I don't think taking a supportive role was a bad thing- it meant that I could be involved in more projects and the exposure itself was really interesting and helpful.

I study Economics at university, so the work I did contributed directly to my degree studies. The experience itself was very valuable, as I now have a clear idea what I want to do after graduation- I definitely want to stay in the same department!

It was really good- people worked hard, but at the same time it was also very easy to have a chat with colleagues, and everybody was really friendly. I would say it was professional but relaxed. My team also went on social activities together- we played dodgeball, beach volleyball etc.

It was really well organised- the HR department made sure everything was set up and running by the time we arrived! I got the offer in November, and in the next three months I was assigned a buddy (a graduate student in the department) and a mentor (a more senior member of staff in the department). This meant I could get some insight before starting my internship!

We did receive a lot of training, so I felt that the company really invested in me. There were two full training days at the start of the internship, and throughout the internship there were various training sessions to upskill us. There were also sessions with the senior management team, which meant we could understand the busines from a more high level perspective.

Everyone on the internship programme would be considered for a graduate role, depending on performance in the nine weeks. I don't know the exact numbers, but the prospects do seem pretty good. I have met a number of graduate analysts who got their role after finishing the internship programme.

Yes. Personally I get on really well with the other interns in the Treasury. Everyone is really nice and friendly. We often go to lunch together and HR also organises various social events for us. I definitely feel like I have developed genuine friendships with many of my fellow interns.

I was based in Canary Wharf, which is not the cheapest place in London, but at the same time it had a good selection of shops and restaurants, so it was not too expensive to live and work near the area. I could go for a drink on Fridays with friends and colleagues, without worrying too much about the cost. Barclays also has its own canteen, which is reasonably priced, so we don't have to spend too much on lunch.

I don't really know. I very rarely go out, since it's just not what I enjoy doing, so I don't know what the Nightlife is like in Canary Wharf. It does seem to me that the Nightlife is pretty good, from what I hear from other people. There are some nice bars and pubs around, and it's not far from Central London anyway!

Yes. My team went on some social activities together- like dodgeball and beach volleyball. Barclays also actively encourages us to volunteer, which I really appreciated. I worked with the National Youth Agency during my internship and that meant that I got to meet different people and do something slighty different from my day job!