HR Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship as I felt it was incredibly well organised. I had the opportunity to learn about the industry through daily insight sessions within the first couple of weeks, and was also given the names of managers and team members who could talk to me about their experiences and job roles.

I felt like a really valued member of the team. When I arrived and first logged in to my emails, I had already been invited to various meetings by my colleagues, which really made me feel included. I was able to work collaboratively with colleagues and felt that my ideas and input was taken seriously.

I had weekly catch ups with my manager so I always felt supported in my role. Whenever I had a question, I felt at ease asking whoever was most appropriate. In addition, I was given constructive feedback throughout and colleagues were happy to sit down with me and discuss different tasks.

I rotated between different teams so on the whole had lots of work to do. I liked being given several tasks to work on as I could switch between them. I also liked having projects to do rather than daily tasks, as I was able to really research the work that I was doing. In addition, meetings and insight sessions kept me busy in between tasks.

I felt that I was given a good level of responsibility to work independently on my tasks. I think that the research I was able to do was valuable to the business and was also personally rewarding and insightful for me. I was free to set up my own meetings and organise my time.

I feel that over the course of 8 weeks, I have learnt new skills which will help me in both university and my career. I have also learnt much more about what I enjoy most, what I find most motivating/rewarding, and the way I learn best. Being exposed to so much new information over the course of 8 weeks has been exciting, and I now feel more confident in my ability to learn on the job.

The office atmosphere is fantastic. Staff are very welcoming and also supportive of a good work-life balance. Colleagues support each other well and work collaboratively. Positivity runs high and work being done is aspirational. Hierarchy feels limited, meaning all colleagues are respected. Different working environments support peoples' different working styles, meaning everybody can work at their best.

The internship was very well organised. On the first day when I arrived, my IT logins had already been set up, with my email account and phone number. All the interns were invited to an induction session followed by a welcome lunch. We then attended insights on different business areas over the following three weeks. We were given various team tasks where we were able to practice skills and then show what we had learnt from feedback.

I felt that they invested heavily in me. I was given many opportunities to learn about the industry, with senior figures from different business areas talking to all of us and answering any questions we had. Within my department, I also felt that I was supported. When I first started, I came for a training day for the first area I worked in. I was also given access to e-learning and skills sessions, which I could choose to attend.

I loved my department and the people I worked with, and the internship confirmed that this is a career sector I want to move into. M&G also support additional development and qualifications, which is very appealing. Having learnt so much, I would feel privileged if given the opportunity to continue working in the sector, and think that the culture at M&G is supportive of areas such as diversity, which I value very highly.

M&G arranged intern socials over the course of the 8 weeks, meaning everyone met regularly. The events were fun and really inclusive, such as ping pong nights or sports days. We all got on so well, and would always meet in the canteen for lunch. Additionally, interns went out for drinks after work or out on a Friday night, so there was something for everyone. As everyone came from such different backgrounds, there was always loads to talk about!

It's London- so cost is nothing unexpected! I lived at home in Kent and commuted, making this cheaper. The canteen was very reasonably priced so you could get breakfast or lunch, and actually drinks in local pubs weren't as expensive as I thought they would be, so all things considered, it was reasonable. M&G also pay interns at a salary meaning cost of living is very manageable.

Very good nightlife- central London so lots to do anywhere you went. The office location was also great to get to other parts of London, so you could pretty much go out wherever you wanted. Pubs and restaurants everywhere you looked and obviously clubs although 8 weeks flew by, meaning I didn't go clubbing in London- other interns did and had a great time.

Yes- We were added to the sports and social mailing list, so could sign up to different activities. They depended on departments, so you could really get to know your colleagues in addition to the other interns. In addition, we attended a charity day, where we were doing DIY in a local primary school- this was a great opportunity to do something rewarding aside from the typical day.