Summer Intern Review

I really enjoyed my internship here at Santander, my team gave me full mobility to get involved in important tasks. Alongside that there was scope and opportunities to explore different business areas which would have been difficult in other organisations. Was not overloaded with work which is key but I was challenged.

My team were excellent in welcoming me into the team. Everyone really made the effort to spend time with me and introduce to me what their role within the team was. I feel like this is very important for any intern as being someone new sometimes you may feel excluded. My team made me feel very included from day one and have always been very accessible if any help is needed.

Support and guidance was always available to me. Being sat next to my buddy/manager really helped with that. Time is always given to me and they were even willing to stop what they were doing just to make sure that I understood everything. Never was I placed in a situation where I felt helpless.

I was busy enough, my manager always picked challenging and stimulating work for me to get on with. I would say that I was able to handle my work effectively during my time here. The work given was perfectly tailored to the skills in which I wanted to gain on this internship alongside my abilities.

Alot. From week one I was asked immediately to create a power point slide within my own points. Alongside that I was asked to present said slide all within the first week. Throughout my time here I have been involved with many tasks varying in responsibility. A few tasks which have been fully controlled by me also.

I think I was very clear with what skills I had wanted to develop by the end of the first week. With this in mind I had informed my manager and we went about tailoring my time within Santander to achieve the skills which I had intended to gain. My team fully empowered me to achieve me goals, which was encouraging.

My floor had the perfect mix. Serious enough to get your work done, but relaxed enough that you can have a small laugh. Didn't feel like I was consistently judged hence it was a really comfortable environment for me to be in. Everyone within the office was very approachable as well, a real bonus.

For my scheme there seemed to be real confusion. I felt bad for my team and my manager as they had had no brief on what to do with me. But my manager and my team were proactive in arrange work and tasks for me to get involved in. I wished our scheme had maybe rotations within so that I would be able to experience more areas and desks. I had to be very proactive to experience this myself.

I feel that they invested in me with the time and effort given. But this is largely from my team. Did not feel much from the 'firm' per se.

I think future employment prospects are bright and they are ones which I would like to pursue. The opportunities which I have been presented with are interesting and are definitely areas which I can see myself pursuing further. There is a real range of different departments for the graduate scheme for which you can spend time within but there seems to be so limitations which I do not agree with.

I feel that with fellow placement students there seemed to be a real struggle. Maybe it is because there were not many set events in which we got to spend time with each other. Interns seemed very comfortable within their own circle and was slightly hard to interact with them on a social front. Wish there was more ice breaking activities at the start to ease the nerves of others.

Expensive, but it is London after all.

Good nightlife as you expect in London but very expensive.

Not really too sure what this question is really getting at. If you meant activities such as charity ones then yes. Participated in a CSR project where we replanted trees for this charity. Was really good fun and nice change to sitting in the office constantly. Good team bonding activity as well so I thoroughly enjoyed it.