Technology Summer Analyst Review

It was very enjoyable, as I learned a lot, met a lot of talented people, and gained invaluable experience. I was able to get a real insight into the different areas of the banks, applications of technology, and get involved with projects and work of importance. The internship has confirmed my desire to have a career here at Barclays in technology.

The culture is fantastic, in that everyone is open to questions and taking the time out to help you whenever you need it. And this isn't limited to just interns; it seems even more experienced individuals feel able to ask for help when they need it. As long as you are enthusiastic, approachable, and keen to work, there is a real sense of togetherness, and I felt very much part of the team, as opposed to you being considered a short term colleague.

My manager made it clear that he wanted me to gain as much as I could from my time in terms of knowledge and understanding. He gave me the license to explore other areas when I was not working and introduced me to people I could network with. He took me to important meetings with high level employees and provided advice around how I could succeed. I was also well supported by HR and my recruiter.

This is highly dependent on the area you work in; some areas require a lot of knowledge that you simply can't pick up in such a short time period. Also there are times when work will be rolling in and other times when there's not much. Some areas will have individual projects for you, others you are part of a team, so it really does vary with that. When I didn't have anything on I would meet with graduates, and other colleagues in order to learn more about different business areas, and to network. I also tried to use the many resources to learn as much as I could. Its the old clique of its about how busy you make yourself at times.

Some tasks were of critical importance, but at the same time I had support available if I needed it. Other tasks were a lot of easier and could be considered less important, however these also have to be completed when you do work full-time. Again it depends on the team you work in, and how open you are to learning.

A very friendly and inviting atmosphere; teams seem close-knit, and this made it enjoyable. At the same time everyone is serious about projects, and working hard to get things done. It is easy to liaise with people around the office in order to gain knowledge required, or means of completing work. And occasionally there are floor events which are very enjoyable.

There was a clear structure, and it was easy to balance your learning commitments and your work commitments. Training was completed within the first week before you met your teams. Online training could be completed when you did not have other tasks on your plate. Learning sessions with high level employees were immensely helpful and gave a real insight into different areas and applications of technology. There were clear milestones in the internship for appraisal and recruiter meetings.

I was given the opportunity to learn whatever I wanted to learn within the scope of the bank. Employees in other business areas were happy for you to shadow them, the learning sessions were with high level employees, individuals from the group chief office also took the time out to give talks, and made us feel valued. There were so many opportunities, and I feel I gained a lot as a result.

There are clear channels of development and progressing with your career at Barclays. And the opportunities to move around within the organisation are numerous. The company invests well in your development, and thus prospects are excellent.

Fellow interns were sociable; I made a lot of good friends and we supported each other throughout and gave advice. And interns will get together for lunch and other activities. Graduates also made us feel welcome, and organised events for graduates and interns.

Naturally London is expensive.

There are sports groups, gym, networking groups and more. And there's so much to explore and do in Canary Wharf and London in general. There are also charity events to get involved with.