Sprin Intern (BUK) Review

I enjoyed it very much. It not only alleviated my fears and worries, but also helped me to think about what I saw myself doing career wise in the future. Everyone was nice which didn't hurt, from the other interns, to the grads, to senior members, which made me feel welcome.

I felt extremely valued, especially on the last day. Before coming into the program, I felt very grateful for even being selected, but at the end, we were also told that we were also doing Barclays a favour, as without us, Barclays wouldn't be able to fill up their grad scheme,

So much!! No question was to simple, silly, annoying, or complex. Everyone that worked there had a wealth of knowledge and patience with us, and even if we didn't feel comfortable asking in front of people, they were willing to give us their emails for us to message them privately.

It will help a lot! Learning terms like ring-fencing, open banking, and API (Application Programming Interface) helped me put a lot of what i am learning at university into perspective, especially with ring fencing.

I did not like the fact that we did not have Monday due to the public holiday, but that was not HR's fault, and they worked with what they had. The RISE tour could have been better too, as we got a bit lost getting there, and there was a miscommunication between the people giving the tour so we just hung around at reception in the building till Tom showed up. Other than the odd hiccup, I liked the structure.

The first time I walked into the building on the first day, I felt overwhelmed until I spotted some employees in jeans and sneakers (24th floor?!?!). From then on, I realised that while Barclays (or at least BUK) is a place that gets things done, while still maintaining a free, conducive, and friendly atmosphere. It was wonderful.

Banking usually has bad press, but I realised that there is a big difference between BUK, other UK banks, and then American banks. From the atmosphere in the building to the work ethic (e.g. flexible working hours), my fears were alleviated and I realised that perhaps there is room for me.

At least that's the plan