Investment Intern Review

Really enjoyed the internship especially at the beginning. I made friends with the other interns and the buddy scheme is a very good idea to get you settled in. I felt like the work was interesting and challenging however the workload tailed off towards the end with less work being sent my way and lots of colleagues going on their summer holidays.

To begin with I felt a very confused by all of the lingo and the business in general however with more tasks and training sessions this soon all became very clear. I felt like they tried to include us in as many interesting projects as possible however it can sometimes feel like you're getting the 'boring' tasks - although this is to be expected due to lack of experience. Overheard someone say "oh just give that to the interns" when people had work they didn't want to do. Also in a team meeting I was told that I shouldn't be taking my designated leave as I was 'just an intern' and shouldn't need a holiday which I felt was demeaning.

A meeting with my line manager was held at the beginning, middle and end of the internship. Other than that I saw very little of him at all except to tell me that my clothes were inappropriate, it was difficult to know what to wear when a scruffy t-shirt, jeans and trainers is allowed but a below the knee skirt and a nice top (or a long dress that another intern was wearing) is not allowed. My buddy was not as attentive as some of the other buddies, sometimes giving work to the other interns instead of me which was strange and they were often working in the other office.

At the beginning of the internship I was pretty busy with enough work to do all day and the days went by quickly. Now towards the end I find I have very little to do despite asking for more work every week in the team meeting, there comes a point where asking for work feel like you are being a nuisance. I tried my best to keep busy through researching and doing things such as office wide charity events.

As much as could be expected for an internship. From my first day I was emailing clients and managers and was involved with some very high value funds. I even got to advise a client which fund to disinvest from using my own analysis which was good. As the work tailed off towards the end I felt like I wasn't being given any responsibility as most of my work became admin and research and less client based.

I feel like I have learnt a huge amount about investment, about economics and about office culture. Even the things I liked less about the internship have taught me skills I will use in later life. I have developed my knowledge, my research skills, presenting skills and excel skills. I feel like I have learnt a lot about how it is acceptable to act in an office environment and how to engage with colleagues of all different levels.

Very friendly and relatively informal, myself and the other interns were invited to lunch with the grads which was really nice. Hot desking means you don't get bored of your seat and get to speak to different people. The atmosphere between all of the interns, including those from other departments was very good. Around the middle of the internship we had been told that we were acting too informal at lunch time so we decided to take lunch with the other interns rather than senior staff as to not offend anyone who is sensitive.

Very well organized at first with a 2 day induction in London, regular meetings and training sessions about all different areas of the business which were very insightful. Towards the end it felt like they had given up on us a bit and were just leaving us to it. It seemed that the buddies were given full responsibility of organizing our internship which seems like a lot of work for them as well as their normal tasks - perhaps why it was always very well set up.

Lots of training sessions on different areas of the business and with different levels of staff including some very senior. Mostly we trained ourselves how to do the work by learning through doing however they were always happy to answer questions should we have any. Felt like they stopped investing in us about 6 weeks in and didn't make me feel like they valued me as a potential graduate employee.

I originally really liked the idea of working at WTW after graduating however the more time has gone on the less I felt this. We were not given any information on the grad scheme at all which seems strange as it the next step after the internship. I would be interested in working for WTW after university if the company was more flexible with office location, as I have been staying with friends for the internship away from my partner, friends and family - the job would have to be incredible for me to move my whole life here. I didn't get the impression from WTW that they would be interested in offering me a place on the graduate scheme.

Very good social scene with the other interns and also within the team. There was a cricket social, a rounder's social, a pub quiz to name a few within the office. With the other interns there was opportunity to go to the pub after work, go to town/the park at lunch etc. and nights out in London have been planned for the end of the internship. There are multiple pubs and restaurants in Reigate and you are within easy reach of London.

I lived with friends so didn't have to pay rent although I am aware that rent in Reigate is similar to London so its not cheap. Trains were expensive and VERY unreliable, I didn't eat out at all but prices didn't seem extortionate, canteen food looks lovely and is very reasonable and there are also microwaves for packed lunches if you are on a budget.

There are multiple pubs in Reigate as well as a monthly office event with free drinks. Reigate is quite quiet compared to a city but you are not far from London if you want to go for a proper night out. Some of the other interns went on nights out with the London interns as well.

Yes lots. Pub events every Friday, pub quiz, cricket match, a huge rounder's tournament and lots of opportunities to socialize with the other interns outside of work if you wanted to.