Intern Review

I really enjoyed the experience. Getting the opportunity to interact with different interns and senior members of the various business areas in the NatWest Groups, specifically Commerical Banking, was extremely insightful and valuable. The bank did a great job in structuring our program and making sure none of the Zoom meetings clashed with one another and also made each one different and interesting in their own way. It was also great meeting different interns from all over the United Kingdom.

I felt extremely valued over the course of the program. The HR team did an excellent job of handling any queries and getting back to us quickly. Every graduate and senior member of the firm was more than willing to chat with us and explain their work experiences and what they do on a day to day basis. There was an excellent atmosphere of inclusivity in the program and we were often encouraged to ask questions.

We received a massive amount of support. All of us were assigned a mentor in the firm, who is a graduate and was thus in a very similar situation to us. My mentor, and from speaking to my fellow interns their mentors as well, was extremely supportive and was always ready to catch up online and answer any questions. The senior members also were very friendly and welcoming and answered all of our questions informatively.

Since the internship was virtual, we were unfortunately not able to develop certain technical skills that we would have in the office, however, that was more than counterbalanced with the interpersonal skills we gained through the virtual internship. We had several sessions on skill development and thus were able to gain a better insight into our own capabilities and skills and how we could develop them. Moreover, learning how to use Zoom effectively was definitely a skill that we culminated and one that's going to be useful going forward

The internship was extremely well structured with each week focusing on a different aspect to be developed.

There was a very friendly and inclusive atmosphere in the virtual internship. Every member of the firm seemed more than happy to answer our questions and even offered to have one on one zoom calls to talk over certain queries of we were running overtime. There was also a lot of opportunities to work with different interns and get to know each other better, through charity projects, case studies etc. Overall, it was an extremely stimulating and fun experience.

We had an entire week scheduled for personal development. The firm held several Zoom meeting aimed at helping us understand the importance of networking, maximising our potential and overall getting a better grasp of self-development. The most impactful lesson would definitely have been the networking and connections session for me in which the host (Emma) explained how important it is to try and form a relationship with other members and the best ways to contact senior members so that they can have a better impression of you.

We had a week scheduled around introducing us to the firm's core values and getting to interact with the people who have helped shape NatWest into what it is today. We were also given plenty of opportunities to talk to different members of the firm about the company culture and what separates it from its competitors. Through our meetings, we were made to understand what NatWest's transition into a purpose-led bank really means and how the bank plans on upholding to it.

The content was extremely helpful in gaining a better understanding of what life as a graduate in the bank looks like and how the company supports and helps its workers. It definitely provided some useful insights into future career planning and important decisions we as students and soon to be workers have to make. NatWest radiates an atmosphere of development, inclusion and would be an excellent place to work and the various Zoom meetings help elaborate on that.

There was a multitude of opportunities to interact with employees of the firm from all levels of seniority. We were given a graduate buddy whom we could talk to and would provide us with great insights, the senior members were always willing to stay and chat with us for a while over their views on NatWest as well as career journeys and the graduates who helped during the virtual internship were always ready to help us over Linkedin.

I would definitely recommend the NatWest virtual internship to a friend and anyone who is curious to gain a better understanding of what life at NatWest and in banking looks like. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, meet new and interesting people, make connections and learn and develop through the course of the program. You'll definitely leave the program having a better understanding of your career as well as having any questions you have answered.