HR summer internship Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my HR internship at Barclays. It has confirmed that I would like to pursue a career in HR working in financial services. I was placed in a very interesting part of the Bank and the unique nature of the area I was working in meant that I had the opportunity to learn about both IB and group HR policy.

I think my colleagues did value my input and my work. They would often ask me for my perspective on a problem and ask me to take the lead on certain projects. The team will continue to use some of the trackers and templates I created and this shows how much they value my work.

My team were very supportive of me. They were happy to answer any questions I had and took the time to explain the typical practices for the business. They also encouraged me to get involved in areas that interested me. I was always able to get regular feedback on the work I had been doing and given ways to improve it.

During the first few weeks of the internship, I was quite busy shadowing a graduate in my team and learning about the different HR roles and responsibilities. As my HR knowledge grew, I became busier and took ownership for certain processes. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to devise my own project in order that I could add lasting value to my team.

The internship has developed my professional skills and has taught me the value of networking and building relationships with colleagues. It has also allowed me to learn a lot more about HR and the typical roles of a HRBP.

There was a positive, motivating and sociable atmosphere in the office. All of my colleagues were approachable and willing to chat to me. I spoke to a couple of colleagues in the business about their roles and careers to gain a better commercial insight. Moreover, there were social activities arranged in the office to bond the teams, such as a dodgeball tournament and there will be a summer party in September.

The internship was very well organized. In terms of the general intern events, there were weekly speaker presentations from senior leaders which gave valuable insight into the different functions in HR from a senior perspective. The Campus recruitment also kept us up to date with any deadlines on practical issues e.g submitting holiday days or tax queries. In terms of the work, my line manager gave me clear objectives for the internship, which were outlined in the first week.

In our first week, we had financial training and an introduction to the business. This was useful given that most of the interns had not studied a financial related degree at university. We also did online modules focusing on risk and compliance. In terms of future training, I am aware that the company will sponsor graduates to take relevant qualifications, such as the CIPD qualification for HR graduates.

Barclays would be my ideal employer. I would relish the opportunity to work for such a global and well diversified company that would allow me to work in both the investment banking division and a group role. Furthermore, the many initiatives in place to support employees make Barclay a very appealing prospect, such as the 'Be Well' programme and the focus on dynamic and flexible working.

The intern network was definitely a highlight of the internship. As a group, we were very sociable and spent a lot of time together both at and outside of work. The networking and training events were a key opportunity to meet other interns. In addition to this wider group, having a HR intern network was helpful as a forum for answering questions and solving queries.

The prices in restaurants and bars in Canary wharf are quite high in comparison to equivalent places in Bristol, where I attend university. However, I would say that these prices seem reflective of London prices. Moving to London, I expected to pay more for socializing and accommodation. However, the company canteens and cafes are relatively inexpensive.

Canary wharf has plenty of bars and restaurants that are located very close to Barclays’ two main offices. These are very convenient for having drinks after work. However, Canary wharf does not have proper nightlife. Most people prefer to go into the city if they wanted to go to a club.

I think there were some opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. All of the interns were offered the chance to be part of the citizenship project where we worked in teams to propose a social media strategy for a charity. There were also opportunities to be involved in the diversity and inclusion networks and attend their relevant networking events.