Summer Intern Review

I have found the virtual experience very insightful and engaging even though everything is being carried out virtually. The speaker sessions have truly given me a clearer understanding of the different roles in commercial banking, especially the culture and values that The NatWest Group firmly abides by. Even better, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of networking with graduates and interns across different UK hubs, which wouldn't have been possible if the experience was conducted in the office, and so it was a great opportunity to get to know and work with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.

The fact that I was allocated a graduate buddy who was a very helpful and supportive mentor, but also being provided with the full benefits package despite a transformation to a shorter, virtual internship truly demonstrates NatWest's value on its interns. I couldn't have asked for anything more as they have already invested so much time in creating an alternative internship consisting of engaging and insightful sessions for us interns, such that I appreciate the value the company holds for each intern, regardless of what circumstances it is in.

I have received a very high level of support from a variety of different channels across the company. Firstly, the Early Careers Team (including Programme Managers and HR Talent Acquisition) have done an amazing job in organising and running each session in a very smooth and successful way for the interns to have the best possible experience. Secondly, the support from all of the senior speakers and graduates who took valuable time out of their day to speak to us during such sessions was such a privilege. Lastly, the support from my graduate buddy who guided me prior to the start of the internship as well as checking-in throughout the internship. All factors combined have made this experience very enjoyable and stress-free.

Networking has been of very high importance throughout this internship, as it has improved my ability to reach out to many other interns and connect with them, even if not face-to-face, which is what I am normally used to. I'm certain that such skill will be very useful for my remaining year at university as well as any career I choose to pursue. Furthermore, gaining the precious industry knowledge has been such a great tool to help narrow down my career choices and make a more informed decision of which career path I would like to take following my degree studies. Finally, constant engagement in virtual speaker sessions and extrapolating key points has not only been a reflection of my academic strengths, but will continue to be a trait that has been improved and will continue to improve over the course of my academic career.

I personally believe the Early Careers Team have done an amazing job of putting this internship together. It demonstrated the company's ability to adapt to such unprecedented times, and instead of simply cancelling the internship or cutting back on the benefits, they decided to devise a solution that would still provide us with such an invaluable experience whilst still having access to the monetary benefits. The range of speaker sessions, interactive activities, a fundraising project and skills development sessions have been a great way of structuring this internship and adding variety to the programme.

My unstable internet connection aside, I have really enjoyed the environment I've been in over the course of the internship, especially as I have been able to seize the opportunity of connecting with interns across different regions in the UK and even on an international scale. This atmosphere wouldn't have been possible in a physical environment, so I feel very fortunate to have been able to embark on this virtual experience. Furthermore, I have felt a very warm and friendly aura when associating myself with any stakeholder of NatWest, which is a true reflection of the company striving to be a purpose-led bank and fulfil its values.

It is apparent that the company have invested plenty of time and resources in their interns to not only gain more exposure in the chosen division, but to also learn more about the company and how we'd fit in with their culture. It was even more refreshing to provide the interns with a week of skills aimed at personal development with building strong relationships, maximising your potential and emotional intelligence and reflective practice that I have highly valued and has aided my own personal growth.

The internship was very well planned in giving me a much clearer insight into my division of Commercial Banking, mainly due to the programme specific week of speaker sessions from senior speakers and graduates who presented about the roles and experiences. From this, it has helped give me make a more informed decision about joining the company and this particular division. More importantly, the support and more extensive insights I have received from my graduate buddy about her role has been another useful tool in gaining a better understanding about the role.

From the variety of speaker-led sessions from senior members and graduates, I truly got a taste of NatWest's rich culture of being a purpose-led bank and that they truly hold the company's values closely to their work. In fact, it has been one of the rare major companies I've come across that I feel so welcomed by compared to other companies, from which I believe that is owed to the companies emphasis on communication and teamwork. It's something that has attracted me even more to the bank.

As an ambitious individual who would like to pursue a career in finance, this virtual internship was very helpful in gaining a clearer insight into the banking sector and whether it is the right division for me to pursue and specialise in. From the structure and content of the sessions during the 4 week internship, it has become more apparent to me about the role and responsibilities that I will be having as an employee of this company, in which it has increased the likelihood of my wanting to work in the banking sector.

I am grateful that despite the internship being reduced from 10 weeks to 4 weeks, I have still been provided with the full 10-week pay, which was not necessary, but am still in awe that the company decided to proceed with this kind gesture. It definitely says something about NatWest that they're willing to go above and beyond to invest in the potential that is yet to be unleashed across the interns and young generation.

Yes, thanks to the nature of the virtual internship, this gave me the opportunity to engage with employees across different areas of the company during the speaker-led sessions followed by interactive Q&As. Furthermore, the approachable vibe that I felt from the employees of this company made it very easy to reach out to graduates and other senior members through LinkedIn and connect with them, which I truly believe is a privilege at such an early age of my career.

Although I was looking forward to the Edinburgh induction day for all interns and any other social events that would've happened if the pandemic didn't occur, there were still many networking opportunities available, providing I put myself out there to do so. For example, the Virtual Escape Room, group case study, group fundraising project, and even the occasional break-out rooms during Zoom calls, were all great ways of being able to get to know people better, but personally I found it quite difficult due to the virtual presence making it more difficult to build meaningful relationships.

Yes, NatWest has a huge emphasis on extra curricular activities nad getting involved in causes that they are passionate about, which is very refreshing to see. This could involve Corporate Social Responsibility projects such as sustainability projects or charity projects that they value and belief can contribute towards, which is nice to see that outside of the work environment there are plenty of other opportunities that the bank provides. It would be nice to find out more about how the social side of the job is though.

100%, despite such dramatic changes to the internship, I still believe I have been able to have an amazing experience that actually turned out to be better than I had initially expected. I have built a stronger network, developed my own personal skills and learned more about the business and the division.