Summer Intern Review

The internship was well-organised and I was supported throughout. I also had an approachable and knowledgeable team around me and access to important and interesting meetings. However during the internship I realised that this is not the job for me because I didn't find much of the work personally interesting and struggled to engage.

The majority of my colleagues made an effort to get to know me and none were unkind/cold. Moreover, none refused to have a meeting or a catch up with me when I requested it. However, my internship was very technical and as such my knowledge is not large enough to be able to offer valued opinions often.

My manager gave very good support and guidance. He was very approachable so I was not afraid to talk to him when I needed help. In addition to this, I was given a "buddy". This meant that I had a contact that would not be assessing me and who was able to support me on technical issues and with small queries.

At the beginning (as expected) I had less responsibility and so some empty days. I have also had a couple of days where I've been given a lot of work/meetings last-minute and been too busy too busy to eat lunch. However that was rare and most of the time it's been a great balance. I haven't had to stay later than 6pm.

Everything I did went through approval from a superior. However, I was left to complete the work by myself unless I asked for help. I had some projects which I have almost exclusively run. Moreover, the internship included a charity project which was run and managed by intern groups only.

My degree is very different to my internship and so I do not expect any crossover. However, I have vastly expanded my technical skills which will help me in my personal life and the workplace. Moreover, in terms of soft skills, I have become comfortable in an office environment and will feel confident going into any other professional situation in the future.

We sit in an open office which means that regardless of position in the company, everyone shares the same space. Furthermore, there is a hot-desking policy in place. This contributed to creating a friendly atmosphere and made me feel comfortable approaching most people for help. The office also has a social area on every floor as well as comfortable booths/rooms to take calls or have meetings.

The whole process was very well managed with good communication between the graduate team, my manager, and myself. At all points I had access to any necessary information or the contact information for somebody who could help if I didn't. My one recommendation would be to be more open about the exit/offboarding process as this is something I'm still unsure of.

Before arriving in the office, I participated in a three-day payed induction with all the interns in the company. Following that, in my first two weeks I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of every relevant team in my office in order to learn more about the company. Throughout the internship, I have had regular catch ups with the manager and "buddy" to check in on my progress. Finally, my colleagues were willing to help whenever I had a question.

The internship included the opportunity to be offered a graduate job at the end. This company seems like a great place to work as they care about your welfare, they offer flexible working, and the general atmosphere is good. However, I am not sure whether the specific role I had suits my interests and skills.

I had the opportunity to go out and socialise throughout the internship. This was with both fellow interns and with colleagues. Furthermore, I attended three officially-organised work socials. There was no pressure to go out if I didn't want to which I also appreciated.

The office is based in the City of London. Prices were as you expect - astronomical. However, it was possible to afford to socialise if taking advantage of happy hour and planning ahead.

I was based in London which has a great and varied nightlife. My only struggle was costs and travelling home if I stayed late.

There was a netball tournament as we as access to some charity projects. This is all I'm aware of. However, I think there are more offerings for full-time employees.