Intern (Transformation) Review

I really enjoyed my work placement. My team was amazing, I had to opportunity to learn a lot about the group and the industry and also had time to develop my skill (through various training). However, I have to say that I was disappointed with the fact that we were told, at the end of the internship, that they were going to discontinue the graduate programmes for this business area. This is the kind of information that should have been provided at the start of the internship or even before we applied

The team that I joined had extremely good dynamics and everyone was super friendly. I was extremely well welcomed (better than any other company I have ever worked at). Although everyone had very busy schedules, they would always find time to train or help me, which made me feel very special.

My line manager was extremely supportive all the way through the internship. We made me feel extremely welcomed and constantly checked if I was happy with the work that I was being given. He also helped me enormously in completing the different projects I was given. He was also always available to answer any questions that I had. I know other interns at LBG were not as lucky (some of them barely saw their line managers)

I was fairly busy on a daily basis. For the first weeks, I had quite a few project that were assigned to me, which kept me busy. However, as I started finishing them, I started having more time. Because I don't like being without any work to do, I just "invented" tasks for myself. Basically I started working, without being asked to, on projects that could bring value to my team.

I was not given much responsibility during my placement, but that is due to the type of work I was doing. During my placement, I spent most of the time shadowing other people. The product in which I took ownership were not project of big responsibility (just internal things that had to be completed)

The skill I developed do not directly impact my degree studies, since my degree is not at all related to IT. However the internship was extremely useful in my knowledge and skills development in the IT context, which will be of use throughout my career. It was a perfect first contact with how a IT business area functions in a big company

The global atmosphere in my office was exceptional. Everyone was extremely nice and very keen to help. I felt part of the team from the minute I joined. In addition to that, although being a bank, the stetting was very informal, which I was not expecting. This might vary from office to office though

The internship itself was very well organised, as my line manager prepared himself well in advance for my arrival. Everything was well planned. I have to say though that some activities/events organised by the HR team were not supper well organise (It was not their fault, but the lack of funding they were given for every activity)

LBG is quite good in this. All employees have access to various training platforms online, in which we are completely free to train ourselves in whatever topic we want. I some less business moments, I took the opportunity to do some coding courses, which I believe have been extremely useful

LBG provided accommodation to all interns that did not live in the city they were interning. This allowed us to live with fellow interns and create a very nice social scene. I was living with about 50/60 other interns in a student accommodation in London, so we all knew each other and spent time together outside work.

London is more expensive than the average city in the United Kingdom. However, since LBG payed for our accommodation, our salary was more than enough to live comfortable in the city. However, this might nor be the case for graduate placements, as the group doesn't pay for accommodation and although their salary is superior, in some cases, it might not compensate for the extra living costs

There were various activities outside work proposed by LBG. Most of them involved volunteering, Since LBG has a partnership with Mental Health UK, the majority volunteering activities were related to MHUK. In addition to that London is a big city with plenty of opportunities to get engaged in different activities. Getting involved in activities outside work is definitely not hard.