This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
-
The Company
-
The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The internship was a well structured 8 weeks that was incredibly useful. My team were extremely welcoming and gave me jobs that made me feel as though I was adding value. I went to Lloyds many times, did a presentation for my team, and some research. A great 8 weeks.
My team were so welcoming and friendly. Every person on the team was willing to give me help when I needed it, but were also a good laugh when appropriate. I was given work from other teams on the floor too which was a great way of becoming more integrated.
My team were incredibly supportive and willing to offer assistance. My manager was so friendly so he was easy to approach with questions or any concerns. When I gave my presentation to the group everyone was supportive and kind. When my manager was away everyone else offered work and support.
There were definitely moments where I had less to do than other days. At the beginning when I was finding my feet I found I was given fewer tasks. As the internship progressed I was given more work that required a bit more background knowledge. I think during an internship anywhere however you should expect days less busy than others.
At the beginning I was given more research based tasks to help with gaining new business which was interesting but didn't feel as though I was directly contributing to the team. My personal project was rewarding as I knew it was about new and upcoming exposures the team were curious about and keen to learn more on, so that was rewarding.
Developing my networking skills by reaching out to people across the business and getting to know the other interns are soft skills that will be useful at university and life in general. Ensuring I prioritise work effectively and complete it to a high standard are also soft skills essential at work but will also carry through into university life.
The Company
On my floor in the office the atmosphere was really good. Everyone knew each other well and interacted with each other a lot so you learn passively that way. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly.
The structure of the internship was very well planned. We had speaker series, volunteer days, Teach and be Taught days where we would swap with another intern for a day and all of this was very useful in getting to know the industry better.
We had days where we practised our presentation skills as a group which was alright but not sure I benefited from it hugely on a personal level. My manager was very good at having meetings with me to see how I was progressing and managing my tasks. The grad programme team also organised regular calls with us to see how we were doing.
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
Company Parties/Events
I would definitely be interested in joining the company for the grad scheme - particularly if it's as well structured as the internship which from talking to the grads it sounds as though it is. There seems good movement between the teams and opportunities for progression. There is also a good work-life balance.
The Culture
We had two socials organised for us by the company - each of which were very nice and enjoyable. As interns we would arrange to go for drinks together on a Friday night. Thankfully there was a very nice group of interns and we all got along well with each other.
London was always going to be more expensive than where I live at home so this wasn't surprising to me. I think you just need to prepare and be sensible with your money.
The nightlife is good, there are lots of bars in the City which are close to work. There is obviously loads to do in London.
There are sports clubs to join such as Netball or 5-a-side football, although I feel as though these weren't widely publicised amongst the interns.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
Insurance & Risk Management
London
August 2019