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
My internship at Smith & Williamson was extremely insightful and provided me with an opportunity to improve both my CV and my knowledge of accounting. The team I was placed within were helpful, kind and always providing me with work wherever possible. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship here and would recommend.
The team I was within were helpful in every way possible, included me in both internal and external activities and were always on hand when needed. Right from trainees to partners and the head of the department, I felt included by all and enjoyed the meritocratic environment in which they all ensue.
Management in particular were nothing but supportive. Right from week 1 I spoke of my interests and expectations of which all were matched, and surpassed. In a foreign environment this is particularly helpful as it allows for collaboration and to get a sense of what a potential graduate role would entail.
In terms of work, there were periods in which I was busy for a short amount of time. However, the timing of the internship coincided with holidays of external clients which resulted in a lack of work throughout the department. Despite this, management and the team as a whole always sought to find work to be done.
During my internship I was given significant responsibility early on, in particular working on live cases through internal and external activities. Working within small teams I was able to provide an input on cases without going unnoticed. I feel the responsibility given to interns aligns closely with Smith & Williamson's values.
The skills I have developed will prove pivotal during my studies and have given me the opportunity to apply prior knowledge to principles used daily within a company. The training, and further insights into all departments has allowed me to develop an understanding of what career I wish to pursue.
The Company
I believe the internship was set up brilliantly. Multiple lunches and socials were held to ensure that - despite having multiple interns across the company - the interns socialised together and built networks across different departments. One thing that could have improved the internship was a long-lasting project which could have been worked on during quiet times.
The atmosphere within the office was friendly, exciting and everyone made me feel welcome. A diverse set of individuals spanning a vast age-range allowed for multiple social events which were not only great for winding down, but also for building a more expansive network. Overall, Smith & Williamson's values were shown through their employees.
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Future employment prospects within the organisation are made clear once you are on the internship. Having secured a place on the internship means that most of the recruitment process has been done. Therefore, if given great feedback, and worked well within your team - there is a chance to secure a graduate role.
The Culture
Yes.
As expected.
Good.
Yes, the opportunities outside of work were vast and interns were always considered. Especially during the world cup, many social activities were held within work which interns were invited to and felt welcome to come along and participate. This is a great way to make friends and speak with colleagues with whom you may not get a chance to during working hours.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
Accounting, Business Operations
London
August 2018