This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The internship was a very enjoyable experience which was both diverse and interesting - it could perhaps have benefited slightly from more rotations but the exposure was second to none. Nonetheless, the length of the internship was perfect for understanding exactly what Citi does along with opportunities for cross-divisional networking events.
Undeniably, even as an intern - you are treated with both respect and responsibility by your fellow colleagues. Additionally, one defining feature about Citi is the friendly atmosphere adopted here wherein you are able to easily talk to and network with people working across the whole bank without any hesitation.
Throughout the process of the internship, due to the level of exposure one receives you are able to rely on management for support and guidance at any point should you need it. Also, given the breadth of specialities and of management across the floor - it should be relatively easy to address someone
Undeniably, how busy you are fluctuates on a day to day basis however, on the whole, especially as the weeks went on, there was a lot more to be doing including attending meetings and working on your own research along with opportunities to meet with other colleagues and understand more about the business structure.
During the placement, the level of responsibility you are given is undoubtedly down to you - I was fortunate enough to be trusted with a decent level of responsibility with my research being both important for and valued by the business - being able to discuss my research with numerous members of the department.
With regards to the skills you acquire in a corporate setting in general it is true that they both embed and develop the skills that you have built up throughout your time in education and, more specifically in your degree studies - skills of teamwork, leadership and time management specifically.
The Company
The general atmosphere in the office was jovial, collaborative and determined. When working in the office there is a general feeling of determination to achieve the best possible outcome along with a willingness amongst employees of the firm to work together in order to achieve this. It is also pleasing to see that individuals form personal relationships rather than simple individualism.
The internship was quite well organised on the whole. There are both pros and cons in this regard. On the one hand the internship facilitated enough exposure to management along with enough work to be doing to keep you busy. On the other hand, perhaps the internship would have benefited from a wider exposure to other divisions within the bank and more social events.
Within this organisation there is firmly the belief that if you work hard enough and possess the requisite capabilities and skill-set then there is an opportunity for promotion within the firm, of course, dependent on the level to which you impress with regards to the work you deliver and the manner in which you approach it.
The Culture
This is one thing that perhaps I would say was lacking in the office - perhaps my sole critique of my time working at Citi. There is not much exposure to getting involved with activities outside of the office although this is perhaps only true for those on an internship rather than being standard firm-wide practice.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
Commercial Banking, Banking
London
July 2018