Intern Review

I very much enjoyed the program as it wasn't too intense and allowed me to fully utilise the resources the company had to offer without being a stressful experience. Moreover, everyone involved with the program was very welcoming and this also contributed to my enjoyment. Overall, I had a wonderful time.

I felt extremely valued at the company. This was being of the employees attitude towards me. They were extremely welcoming and forthcoming when it came to introducing me to the program and also throughout. They went out of their way to show me new things which made me feel like they valued my learning experience.

While we were given the tools and means to prosper on this program, often we were left to our own means. I, however, feel this is important in growing as it forces you to go out of your way to engage and meet new people which is how things are in the real world.

This program has given me a whole new wealth and depth of knowledge I did not posses before. I now have a brand new insight into a previously unfamiliar industry. Moreover, I have learnt several soft skills on top of this as the program is very well rounded and doesn't just focus on academic / department specific knowledge.

My only qualm about the insight would be the structure. While at times I was very busy and had lots to do, this wasn't the case for the whole time. I feel as though more structure and activities could be better implemented into the program, or even reducing the length of it could be a solution.

The general atmosphere of the program was extremely welcoming and kind. Everyone was eager to learn or share their knowledge and this was the case throughout the program. This particularly contributed to how comfortable I felt throughout the program and I believe the enabled me to prosper and utilise the experience fully.

The company invested much in improving a whole host of skills. We covered industry specific knowledge, soft skills as well as applied skills. This allowed me to gain a wide variety of skills which we all equally applicable to the work place, and not specifically within the financial sector either.

The nature of the role meant I essentially worked along side real employees. This allowed me to grasp almost exactly what it would be like to have a full time role here. Moreover, I experienced this within several teams. Overall, I definitely gained an understanding of what it would be like to work here full time.

Throughout the insight, I experienced a whole host of different aspects of the company. I gained an in depth knowledge of the company culture, which actually contradicted my previous perceptions of this industry. By working along side real employees in the office, I was able to gain a true inside into the company culture.

This very much depended on a day to day basis. On days where I was busy it very much enabled me to envision this role as a full time one. As a result I was able to get a true and authentic feel as to whether I would like this to be my future.

I was paid on a daily rate for the entirety of the program. We were paid on a weekly basis. The company also offered to reimburse travel costs for those coming from afar. There I feel I was adequately reimbursed for the program and did not face any financial strain.

There were a significant number of opportunities to network. We experienced several networking lunches, a networking drinks and general day to day options to contact employees. As a result, we were able to meet many people in many different parts of the company, as everyone was eager to share their experiences and knowledge. This was encouraged throughout the program.

Many events were held for networking such as lunches, dinners, information sessions and shadowing. Throughout the program we were encouraged to contact employees to meet with them and all were happy to do so. Moreover, we were also given many chances to socialise with other interns and to take a break from industry specific networking.

We were given numerous talks throughout the program by employees in different areas. They discussed all the activities the company supports and promotes for employees. As a result we were able to gain a significant insight into activities outside of work. Moreover, while In the office we were able to see notice boards detailing activities.

From the wealth of knowledge, insight, contacts and experience gained I would definitely recommend this to a friend as it genuinely gives a true and thorough insight into the company and sector. It was a very positive and insightful program which allowed me to prosper as a person while making steps towards my future career.