Summer Analyst Review

I had a really enjoyable time at Barclays, met great people and learnt a lot. A summer placement gives you the chance to trial the company and the role and Barclays was a great company to do that at. Barclays has really strong company values and I believe that I have made a number of long standing connections within the company.

At Barclays, I felt valued by my colleagues. As I was given large amounts of responsibility, I soon had other colleagues coming to me for advice. Interns were regularly invited to social and networking events which enabled us to feel valued. It was a great chance to network also. All employees were always willing to answer question, mentor and teach you about different parts of the business.

I felt very well supported at Barclays, with a fantastic line manager who mentored me and push me to reach the best of my abilities. I felt that I could always approach my line manager. I had regular check ins with my manager, which gave us the chance to reflect on my progress. Those on the graduate scheme are also another point of contact when you need extra support.

I was constantly busy. This was in part to the challenging goals that were agreed by myself and my line manager. At times, it could be quite stressful, but I enjoyed pushing myself to reach my set goals. I also used any slower days to network with colleagues and find out more about different areas of the business.

I was given a significant amount of responsibility during my placement and it was largely down to myself on how I was to reach my set goals. This was challenging at times, however, I did have the support from my line manager should I needed it. Throughout my placement I was gradually granted more and more responsibility.

Each day, I grew in confidence and developed a whole range of skills during the placement. My analytical and presentation skills vastly improved and both of these skills will benefit me once I return to University. Having to present to senior members of staff improved my confidence and I had to think quick on my feet to answer any questions. I believe all skills learnt will benefit me for life.

There was a great general atmosphere within the office. It was a busy, fast paced environment, however, most people were friendly and welcoming. Barclays has great core values and diversity is highly celebrated making it a welcoming atmosphere with a sense of acceptance of people from all walks of life.

I found the programme at Barclays to be well structured. Some IT issues at the start but I think that is to be expected! Meaningful and impactful objectives were set to ensure that we got the most from the programme and frequent session were set to review such objectives. I was given extensive feedback from my line manager upon completing the placement which was very useful and I was given lots of information about next steps.

I felt well invested in, with lots of networking sessions put on and various events for interns to attend.

Future employment prospects are very appealing. After my insight in the company I would love the opportunity to go back and there are lots of options to do so upon completing the placement.

There was a very good social scene amongst fellow placements students, very often going for lunch together most days and going for drinks once a week. We had an active 'WhatsApp' group chat that kept us connected and enabled us to easily organise catch ups as well as share problems and ask questions. In addition to this, there was some organised networking events, as well as, an end of placement event.

As I was based in London, I found the cost of living high, however, once you find your way about this city, it is easy to find places that offer good deals and cheaper drinks. Avoid the tourist areas for the best prices! My main outgoing was rent, however, the company provides a good salary and generous accommodation allowance, which is a good perk.

The night life was fantastic and I loved exploring the city! There are so many different options to suit everyone and you will never be sort of bars, pubs and clubs to try! After work, the bars are always really buzzy and there is a great atmosphere, with lots of places offering good Happy Hour deals.

There were different opportunities however not a lot organised by Barclays itself, mainly employees setting up sporting teams etc. of their own accord. However, community outreach and volunteering is encouraged and I know several people that took time off to take on charity projects. There are quite a number of sporting teams available to join.