HR Intern Consultant Review

I have found the internship enjoyable, as I have received some responsibility and I fee I am working on pieces that matter. However, sometimes there are too many "extracurricular" challenges that do take up a lot of time. These challenges can be fun and bring a sociable aspect to working, but as some may have many objectives with work already, they find themselves working way past 8 hours a day.

I have really felt that my team has taken me as their own and have treated me that way. I have received positive feedback on my work, but also criticism, which validates my pieces of work as valuable contributions rather than meaningless tasks given patronisingly to an intern. I feel that any feedback is thought-out and well-founded.

I have received great support from my line manager during my internship. However, she has been away on holiday for 2 weeks out of the 10. While this has not been a problem per se, but I would like to know the person who is "next in charge" as there has been no clear accountability in that way.

I have been extremely busy most weeks, which has been good, but at times a bit too much. However, I do realise that this is the nature of working life in general- sometimes there is a lot of work to go through (especially when there is time pressure). In addition, I personally enjoy being challenged and thrive under time-pressure. However, i have witnessed people at all ends of the spectrum: too bored or pushed too hard.

I was pleased with the amount of responsibility trusted onto myself- This was built over time as well, which made me more confident in accepting this responsibility as well. I cannot by any means say that "I was running the show" as it were, but I do not feel its an intern's place to do so either, that would be a risk that is not well-founded.

As my first "proper" office job, I have learned skills and working styles that I have never had before, such as time management, excel, outlook etc. as well as further enhancing skills that I knew existed but were not honed in an organisational context such as relationship management and report-writing skills.

It was positive, supportive and (on Fridays mainly) also fun! I did not feel tense, judged or observed (in a negative way). I felt I could ask questions from anyone in the office and not feel bad or stupid about it. I was fully included in all team events since day 1 (literally, day 1 for me involved team-afternoon tea).

I do not know if my placement was meant to be more organised than it was, but at times I was a bit confused on what is asked of me and what my objectives and deadlines were. It took me at least 3 weeks to fully understand what my role is and what I was doing. This could be done a bit better.

There were many options to improve and learn new skills in Gogarburn- as the location is massive and have many events and groups such as "the coding club". In addition, July was learning at work month, which provided many opportunities for spotlights and learning sessions for a variety of topics.

Interns at RBS are in a good position, as something like 80% are offered graduate roles for the following year. This is appealing as the graduate programme is 2 years of paid work, after which your chances of getting employed are much better, and career progression does seem to be an option within the organisation (many very senior people begun as graduates).

There was a very good social scene amongst other interns that I know of- however, I was not a part of it, as I was commuting from another town. I do feel that people either already living in Edinburgh or having moved to Edinburgh for the summer, were at an advantage over those who commute- but this was no fault of RBS or the interns, just circumstance.