Summer Analyst Review

I absolutely loved my time at Baringa: everyone made me feel so welcome, the work was stimulating and valuable to the overall project, and I feel I have learnt more than I ever could have expected to in eight weeks.

Colleagues always valued my input and contributions to deliverables and meetings. The tasks I was given were always meaningful and my opinions were always acted upon as if I were a permanent member of the team

Colleagues always had time to answer any questions and ensure I knew how to complete the tasks ahead, whilst also knowing when to step back and let me perform the work without being baby-sat. If my project manager was away in a meeting I always felt I knew who would be the most appropriate person to approach in her absence, and they were always very helpful.

My days were relatively long (usually around 8.30-6ish, though this was very flexible) and usually quite easy to manage. In the first few weeks, there was less work than had been initially expected as the project had not advanced as much as it was first hoped, however whenever I had completed a task or had some spare time on my hands, however I always felt I could approach my team to ask how I could be helpful to them, and was almost always recommended a task I could help with.

My projects involved me working with many senior members of the client team on projects that had both relatively pressing deadlines and high importance. By my final weeks, I felt very comfortable leading meetings with clients and obtaining the necessary information from these. I always felt I had appropriate guidance and back up throughout my projects.

The skills I developed during my time here (e.g. standard PMO work, stakeholder management, excel & powerpoint skills) will definitely be of use both in my final year at university (a computational lab-based masters) and in future jobs! I look forward to putting them into practice and developing them further.

We had quite an unusual office atmosphere for a client site in that Baringa staff (some seconded to client work, some not) were sat amongst client staff so the general atmosphere was reflective of both Baringa and client. The atmosphere was generally allowed a good working environment but we also had a lot of laughs and running jokes, particularly towards the end of the day! We were occasionally subject to the fluctuations of some client staff moods but nothing worse than could be expected for general office life! For interns, Fridays were spent in the Baringa offices where the atmosphere was excellent. We generally all sat together as a group of interns and could catch up on our weeks at different client sites. This didn't produce the most productive atmosphere but was a lot of fun!

Brilliant organisation from application to final day. Communication was always very good and very easy to contact appropriate member of team to answer any questions.

The internship started with an intensive 2-day consulting 101 course which provided some basic consulting skills but predominantly served to calm nerves more than anything. We set personal objectives at the start of the internship, and followed these in scheduled weekly catch up meetings with project managers. One Friday we were given a half day's training on Lean processes (which earnt an accredation). Help and advice was always on hand if you felt you needed to develop in a particular area.

Baringa pride themselves on being a "Great Place to Work" and the excellent culture they foster in the business. Though I approached my assessment centre day during the application process with a high degree of scepticism about this, as far as I have experienced these claims are absolutely true and I couldn't imagine working anywhere else.

There were 16 other interns and we all got along really well. As well as the Baringa-organised social events (I probably had some kind of social event at least every week) we also organised our own events, going for drinks for those of us placed in London etc.

London is expensive. I got a good deal on accommodation as I moved in with friends (and Baringa will support you up to £140 a week with this!) but I could spend £2.90 on the tube every day (I recommend staying the extra half hour if you're still in the office by 6.30: off-peak tube fares are nearly half the price if you have a railcard!). I recommend bringing a packed lunch if on an economy drive, though other interns had a bit eat-out atmosphere in the office so usually ate lunch out with their teams. Drinks and other social activities are obviously expensive in London, though many of the occasions were part of the Baringa socials budget.

I got the opportunity to be part of a Baringa team in a corporate relay (we ran in the Olympic stadium!) and there are a couple of sports things within Baringa, such as Friday morning football before work in the courts opposite the Baringa offices. There were of course plenty of social activities, and interns were invited to other Business Units' social activities even if we were a part of that Business Unit. Including travelling, my days were quite long so it was difficult to do my in the evenings, but I'd still say I had considerably more free time than university, and I still managed to keep up outside interests such as running and singing.