Summer Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the 150 interns in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Everyone was very inclusive and we had a good time. The internship itself is a mixed bag. Sometimes you will be extremely busy and other times you will not have much to do at all. Be prepared to be proactive in networking.

This depends entirely on the team you are put in. My team were good fun as they were all within 20 years of me. I do know other teams that used to network together and go out all the time which made the intern feel a part of the team. It entirely depends on your team.

My Manager has been supportive in his capacity. As it is during the summer months, he did go on holiday for a few weeks. However, I always felt like I could chat to any member of my team and they would always be willing to help me out. It was very easy to chat to the team. They also set clear goals that you have to aim to achieve.

During the early days you are trying to get access to the systems as well as making friends with your team. You are not busy at all and it does sometimes make it hard to try and show your talent off. However, ask for more work or take the opportunity to network with interns and grads from other teams to get the most out of the internship.

I was given responsibility in terms of going to client meetings, writing up reports and sending them to client. Most of my responsibilities focussed on my personal development which meant that it was harder to prioritise. I always ended up asking for more work and I would definitely recommend doing this.

Firstly, I have used my accounting skills throughout. I feel like this is something that has cemented my understanding of accounting and financial statements which has been very useful. I have gain an inside view of how a bank works and it has been a very interesting experience. I feel like I can appreciate the financial world more as I have this newfound perspective.

The atmosphere was always great. It is very jovial but everyone ensures that they get the job done. As you dictate your own time, it is easy to go and chat to other teams, interns, managers and employees. There is a very good work environment at the office which is useful to have.

The systems access took 5 weeks to get. This was a major problem for nearly all interns as it meant we were unable to get fully settled in. HR have been very good and try to ensure you have the best internship possible. However, it entirely depends on your team. Ensure you are proactive and ask to move if you are not enjoying the experience.

The company are very focussed on investing in the individuals that work at the bank. There are spotlight sessions weekly, where you can sign up and listen in on various calls on different topics. This means you can broaden your horizons. Nearly everyone will take time to meet you and direct you to the right person - make sure you make the effort!

Depending on your role, you could have an amazing time at the bank. The graduates have all said that the rotation you are put on will dictate how enjoyable your experience is. Talk to other people prior to the internship and try and request a division that suits you beforehand - an email to HR would be perfectly fine!

Yes! All the interns are very friendly and we all had an enjoyable time. There are about 50 interns in London that are split across 4 locations. Everyone normally meets up at Liverpool Street for different activities. Be open to chatting to everyone and don't get too attached to a group, and you will have a great time!

London is notoriously expensive. Thus, it was very expensive to go out every evening. Most evenings we would go to a cheap Wetherspoons and just relax there. Lunch is very expensive too. Make sure you use any deals and student offers available wherever possible. Save the money now - it definitely helps.

Nothing in London is too far away. The nightlife can be amazing wherever you go. Soho is always a great place to go and visit. Some teams host weekly or bi-weekly drinks, but again this just depends on the team and manager you have. If you are social, go out wherever you can and just be polite. Its a great way to make friends and get people to like you!

The graduates try to send you some opportunities where possible. Sign up to as many as possible and make sure you always get the emails. The RBS Aspire Network is great to meet individuals and learn more about the bank. Don't be afraid to organise something for the team too once you are close. Nothing too crazy, but it shows you want to get to know them too!