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
Everyone is very welcoming, and whilst it takes time to get used to the way the bank works-terminology, systems, etc-this is taken into account. It is a very good atmosphere which allows you to make the most out of the internship, and feel valued. There is an element of luck on the division you get and if it aligns with your preferences, but there is plenty of scope to get insight into different areas.
This is an area where I feel the Bank stands head and shoulders above others. The culture is really welcoming and accepting, and the work I got set reflected BAU operations for the bank, making me feel as if my work was relevant, and I was treated equally, not as 'an intern' as is the case in many other firms.
My manager was really good-he was always there if I needed any advice, without being overly hands on. I could come to him for more work or if I was feeling overwhelmed with some of the work I had been set. It was also very easy for me to speak to other colleagues who are happy to help-again, the banks culture. I believe this is the product of a very well organised scheme, where it is clear what interns are expected to do. However, as always, each individual's manager varies, and you hear stories of others who don't have as friendly managers, but on the whole, everyone seems happy.
In general, I thought the amount of work was right for me. Occasionally, I felt that I wasn't pushed enough, and could've done more. But as I progressed, I got better at asking for more work if I needed it. I feel the bank is on the cautious side in terms of what they give you, so having the confidence to ask for me is key.
I was given a lot more responsibility than I expected, but I think this developed as my internship progressed, as they saw how capable (or not!) I was. In my last month or, I was leading on a meeting with senior managers and the Head of Division-so I had a lot of exposure.
One of the most important skills I have developed is my knowledge of the business environment-how the office works, how best to approach others, and how to ask for help without being annoying. This will help me when going into a professional environment full time. In terms of actual skills, this depends on your business area, but my analytical skills have developed, as I have to use ratios to 'judge' firms. My excel skills also improved dramatically.
The Company
Atmosphere was really friendly-everyone is welcoming and makes an effort to say hello. It is easy to ask questions or to go for coffee. We even used to go out running once a week, and also go for lunch or drinks a number of times. There were other interns on my floor which was nice.
This is really good-your manager is obviously briefed on all the details of the internship by HR, so you feel that you can make the most out of your time here. There are loads of other interns, and there are organised social events at the start, so it is a good way to meet people.
This is my second internship with the bank, and they treat you like normal staff, so I feel they give you the time and the money to learn like one of their staff. It is also a good platform to come back as a grad without going through the process-it feels like they believe they have got the right person, so want you to come back,
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Working from home
There is a good platform to come back and get a grad role. This depends on whether you want this or not, but there is good opportunity there.
The Culture
There is a chance to get to know everyone during the first few days training. And then HR organise a social in the first week. After that it is down to you, but many of the interns become good friends. There are also events in your team throughout the internship, giving plenty of opportunity to make friends.
It is quite expensive, but you are earning money, and there are ways of doing it cheap-don't eat out loads, go to happy hour bars, etc. Accommodation is very expensive-don't expect to make much if you have to pay for accommodation! The Bank's food and coffee is subsidised to quite cheap, which is a plus. It definitely makes you street smart in terms of looking after your money.
It is in central London-the nightlife is what you make of it. There is always something to do, whether that is food, drinks, clubbing or something else. I don't think you can get much better for nightlife than central London, just make sure you watch how much you are spending on a night out!
Yes-always events on.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
London
August 2018