Summer Analyst Review

I very much enjoyed my time at Barclays. My projects were stimulating and challenges but at the same time I always felt support to succeed. A summer internship is a great way to test as to whether you are suited to that particular industry and firm. I felt valued and was very much welcomed into the team. Beyond my immediate job role, I also had the opportunity to network and take part in various training sessions.

I was given real responsibility and the independence to succeed on my own terms. I felt respected by my team and at some stages, I was consulted by senior MDs on the projects that I was working on. My ideas were listened to and my line manager would recommend my suggestions to be put forward at senior meetings. When my line manager went on holiday, she trusted me to cover some areas of her work.

My role was largely autonomous which enabled me to solve problems independently and grow in confidence. That being said, I always had the support of my line manager and team behind me. I had weekly one on ones with my manager where I could discuss any issues but she always encouraged me to come with several suggested solutions also. This again was good for my development, Graduates and other interns are always there as a second point of support.

I was fairly busy on a day to day basis, there was not a day that went by that I did not have something to be doing. On the most part, this was a good thing as the days went by really quickly and I was never bored. However, there was certain days that I felt quite stressed and worried I was not going to be able to complete certain tasks to the agreed deadline. Overall though, the balance was good.

I was given large amounts of responsibility from day one. Before joining, my line manager had a very clear work plan for me and the role did not feel like an ''intern'' role, more like a junior position role. That allowed me to feel valued and as I felt treated just like any other member of staff. I often gave advice to other employees and felt my opinions were valued.

Being in an office environment for the first time, I have vastly developed both my written and oral communication skills as well as my general professionalism. I have developed my IT skills and ability to use programmes such as Microsoft and Outlook. Due to the nature of my role, I often had to give presentations in front of large groups so therefore I have also developed my confidence and presentation skills. All these skills will aid me back at University.

The office was fast paced and vibrant but very friendly and therefore made it a pleasant place to work. An open plan office made it easy to speak to colleagues and network with other teams. We would often socialise outside of the office which enable interns to form closer bonds with employees. At busier times, the office seemed more stressful, but overall a great environment.

The work placement was well organised. There was a good induction sessions and there was frequent communication before we began the placement. My goals were established in my first week with my line manager so that I knew exactly what had to be done. From then, I would have weekly sessions with my line manager to track my progress and raise any questions. Concluding my placement, I had a detailed end of placement review where I received extensive feedback. I found this to be very beneficial.

There was some personal training and development, but was largely down to what your line manager provided for you. The firm did organise a number of networking sessions, however, where we had the opportunity to network with senior leaders.

There are a number of great opportunities to go on to.

There was a good social scene amongst fellow placement students and we met up for lunch most days. We were share details of our work and various projects and set up an intern 'whatsapp' group to keep connected. This was good for sharing any silly questions we had and for getting advice. We also organised drinks after work which we did once or twice a month.

The cost of living in London is high, however, the company offers a very generous salary in comparison to most other internships so it is easy to live off. The main expense was rent, which was approx. £800 a month, and travel, which was approx. £200 a month. Food and drinks can also be expensive in the area, but once you have lived there for a while, you find cheaper places to go.

Lots of bars and restaurants nearby- endless places to go! There are not any dance clubs nearby, but it's very accessible to central London, where there is a wide range of clubs, bars and pubs. One of the highlights of my placement was exploring all that London has to offer.

Yes a number of opportunities, including charity events and networking events.