Barclays Technology Spring Week Review

The insight week was absolutely amazing! I had so much fun learning about Technology in Barclays and their vision for the future. The week was very well organised with a good balance between presentation talks, group activities and work shadowing. Special credits to HR for making it even more enjoyable by taking us to great venues and a really nice restaurant on 30th floor.

The employees that I shadowed were extremely friendly, insightful and most importantly provided honest review of their time with the bank. There were two networking events which provided an opportunity to speak with a diverse range of employees - from graduates to senior management team. A huge credit to HR for making us feel welcome and building a rapport with all of us to get to know us better and vice versa.

Support and advice were provided throughout the spring week. The HR team ran a dedicated skills workshop to outline some of the key attributes looked at before selection of interview, provided useful interview techniques and also provided 1-to-1 feedback on our CVs. Employees gave insightful tips into summer internship and graduate programs, specifically their journeys and preparations to getting a placement.

There was a group project set throughout the week which helped us get along with each other and meet new people. This was a great networking opportunity, combined with formally organised opportunities to meet senior employees. I found out that skills needed for technology are so diverse and having more than just programming skills is essential for a successful career in fin tech.

It was very well structured and well thought out. We were provided with an events app which had the schedule for the entire week which helped us keep track of what was happening throughout the week. There was a good combination of events that kept us well engaged and gave us a diverse insight into the different technology roles on offer.

Everyone was so nice and open! The spring week had a great vibe as everyone was interested in technology and everyone was so curious in exploring more. This made it even better as everyone was asking so many questions and spreading their knowledge - so it was great to get a perspective from so many people. We even had meals at 30th floor restaurants which was amazing!

They provided a CV and interview workshop which helped us understand what skills are required to be successfully selected for an internship. The group activities were well selected which helped us showcase our presentation skills and public speaking skills in a professional environment. Feedback was provided and helped us develop for the future.

All the employees outlined their typical timetable which helped us understand what a day job in technology would look like. Clear distinction was made between a developer and analyst role which helped us understand what suits our priorities and strengths. Work shadowing was best for us to understand requirements in a full time role.

The culture of the bank is amazing - it is very collaborative and hard working. Every employee I spoke to highlighted the importance of team work and working with each other to achieve the best results. Ultimately the bank believes in its people and that's possible because of the best recruitment team - Tech early careers are amazing.

There was a range of roles that were explained during the week - both during the presentation talks with talks from MD and Chief Officers for various technology roles. A HUGE emphasis on how much Barclays is pushing its technology business and how it will revolutionise its business model in the future.

£250 for the 5 days + travel expenses (first and last day only).

Yes - plenty. Networking sessions with graduates, speed networking morning with senior employees and work shadowing - an opportunity to meet as many people as possible. There were even opportunities to meet presentation speakers after the talks and that really helped with building a rapport with all of them. Definitely worthwhile!

They were really well organised and really insightful. As mentioned, all the employees offered honest reviews on their roles and especially for applications. Atmosphere was really casual and some of the employees were super enthusiastic. Social events were great - lots of opportunities to mingle with one another over lunch and as mentioned: lunch on the 30th floor with amazing views!

Yes there are some clubs that are available for employees to join outside of work. There are some water sports clubs, dance clubs and even social gatherings. Graduates have wonderful opportunities like raising money for charities in teams and running events that help raise awareness for important global causes. Lots and lots!

More than 110%. Barclays HR are one of the best and they really go beyond their way to help ensure each and every single member has a great time. I really did not expect such a wonderful treatment and they really care about what we can bring to the bank. It is really enjoyable and worthwhile - you will learn a lot.