Summer Analyst Review

I really enjoyed my placement - it gave me a big exposure to Lloyds Banking Group and I was placed in my top choice for which part of the Group I wanted to complete my internship in. I was able to showcase my ability quite completely as I was given a multitude of tasks.

My team got me involved in events even before my internship started by inviting me to a volunteering event on the Friday before my internship began. I was able to connect with my colleagues in a less formal environment to begin with which allowed me to express myself with more confidence in my first week. I was given a wide range of tasks and was even brought to client meetings, which made me feel extremely valued.

My line manager replied to my introductory email almost immediately and we arranged to meet up the following week. She was very open and nice, so I was able to give her honest feedback for when I felt I was not challenged enough in the work environment. Despite her being on her annual leave for three weeks of my internship, the team managed me and guided me very well during her absence and I was able to continue to flourish.

In my first week, I was quite free, as there was not much planned for me to do apart from mandatory training sessions. I completed these within two days and immediately asked for work from the team so I can get started. I was kept busy throughout my internship without the need to stay too late after work.

I was given work that was deemed quite important even in my first week where I put a pitch deck together for a prospect client. I felt quite responsible as this was to be sent out to a client who we are trying to engage with, not a current client.

My degree is in pharmacy, which is quite different from commercial banking (what my internship was based in). However, I have worked with the relationship management team who works with clients from the healthcare sector quite closely in the duration of my internship, which allowed me to view the entire industry in a different light. I was also given the opportunity to gain project management skills, leadership skills and many other skills in addition to this.

Everyone was very friendly and welcoming - there were always something to discuss beside work if you get bored of the task at hand. Different teams knew each other well and despite the team I was in being relatively new due to the recent restructuring, everyone seemed to be quite close with each other.

The organisation was poorer than I had expected. There was no communication from Lloyds until around March, despite my frequent enquiry for more information on the different schemes available to choose from. The details for the Grad Scheme referral process were also released very late into the internship (two weeks before end of the internship to be exact) despite the Group initially telling us that the information would be released by 15th July, which was the third week of my internship.

The firm gave us a lot of freedom to explore and develop our knowledge in different parts of the Group. We were also given training material at the beginning of our internship to develop our knowledge in banking in general. We were also allowed to organise our own off-site visits to companies such as Bloomberg to develop our personal skills.

The Group seems to be reducing the number of Grad and Associate roles available throughout the business. This does reduce the appeal for future employment prospects within Lloyds Banking Group. However, the Group does promote a mentally healthy culture and social interaction between colleagues, which I find important in employment.

The interns were given accommodation to live in during our internship, so we were able to socialise quite easily with one another. My team also organised frequent gatherings to allow members of the team to communicate and socialise in a more relaxed environment. The whole social scene was very active and everyone seems friendly.

As our internship was in Central London, the cost of socialising and living is quite high compared to other parts of the country. However, because I study in London anyway, I'm used to the high prices. I do find, however, the price of food around my office to be quite expensive, which led to my daily Tesco meal deals.

Because our internship was in Central London, the city that never sleeps, Nightlife was fantastic - there was always something to do, people to hang out with, and places to go. If you wanted to go out, there would never be nowhere to go, and other interns on the internship are always more than happy to accompany you.

We were allowed to organise our own training at Bloomberg HQ as activities outside work. During our first few weeks at the firm, the offices also organised multiple induction events to allow us to meet and socialise with each other. My team has also organised many activities outside of work such as volunteering opportunities and breakfasts.