Finance Intern Review

During the 10 weeks I spent in Santander UK, I mainly experienced part of the company that I feel were good. For example, the friendliness of the environment, the opportunity for flexible work, the work hours, and activities offered (webinars, ACCA&CIMA seminars, induction day, tour day etc.). I still feel that there are areas that could be better and need improvement.

The majority of employees whom I met, were very friendly and open. They always asked how I was before getting into everyday business talks and discussing something that I could do with/for them. I've heard multiple times that I will be missed when I leave. Everyone was thankful for the time I spent helping with various tasks, and they said so.

Everyone was very helpful and happy to explain processes / definitions / tasks that I had to do, along with the importance of the task and how it fits into the bigger picture, and helps the team and company to achieve its goal. They were also happy to explain again if I did not understand something, or did not remember.

Even though I was given tasks to do, and got invited to meetings almost everyday, I still feel like I could do more, and that I had too much free time on my hands which I used to do other personal tasks. I asked for more tasks almost everyday, and this got a little tiring, both for me and for those around me.

I was given responsibilities to some extend, and I was happy with that. Working for the first time in a company, unaware of the processes, it felt good to have some guidance and not be given the pressure of responsibilities from day 1. The majority of responsibilities was given after a certain period of time, when I was more confident that I would carry out the task correctly.

I became familiar with up-coming aspects that I wasn't before, which have given me a direction towards my dissertation topic, what I find interesting and what not, and gave me an idea of the overall career path that I want to take. I have developed my organisational, communication, presentation skills - these are always helpful. I have also developed skills in a few computer software programmes that I have never used before, but are generally used in banks and businesses.

Very friendly, open and welcoming. Since day 1 I felt welcome by everyone. Big smiles, firm handshakes and good morning wishes every day of the week. I even managed to make friends - both with other interns but with more senior employees. I have worked both in the Milton Keynes and London offices and I am confident when I say that Santander has a very warm and welcoming work environment.

The internship structure could have been a little more organised, with more things to do in terms of everyday tasks - e.g. I believe we should have an outlined list of things to do before we leave the company. Intern activities, however, were very well organised. E.g. induction day, weekly webinars, ACCA and CIMA talks, a day in the London office which included breakfast with the head of Finance, visiting a branch and the trading floor, and so on.

By giving us the opportunity of spending 10 weeks with them during the summer, I would say that they invested a lot of time, money and resources. I believe it was a very valuable experience, especially since spending 10 weeks with them has given me an "advantage" to getting into their graduate scheme. Even if not, it still is a valuable experience in terms of gaining competitive advantage in nowadays' workplace competitiveness.

The Finance graduation scheme is very appealing and prestige scheme. Only 4 candidates are accepted into the finance scheme, and there are a few options for a professional qualification, while gaining professional experience (ACCA and CIMA). Once finishing your graduate scheme, you are given the opportunity to apply for internal vacancies in other teams/sectors/positions.

Living in London and travelling to Milton Keynes cost approximately £20/day. When I raised this to my manager, she was more than happy for me to work from the London office two times a week to save money.