Research Assistant Review

My role as a research assistant was about supporting my team's yearly research paper. It is hard to give a day-to-day description as it varied with the stage that the paper was in. For example, when we were conducting interviews, my role was to take meeting notes. I also wrote a chapter on the research methodology. After the paper was written, my job was to fact check it, and create graphs and charts. I even got a creative task of writing ALT text to make the paper more accessible.

Yes, I definitely developed new skills. When I started my placement, I had little to no technical skills, but during my year here I developed my Excel and R skills up to an intermediate level. I can now use these programmes to produce data analysis and visualisation completely independently. My soft skills have also been greatly enhanced, as I learned how to work under pressure, prioritise deadlines, and work as a part of a team. I even got to practice my presentation skills, as I volunteered to hold career workshops at colleges.

Yes, I was given a fair bit of responsibility. My manager took care to give me ownership of work streams, for example I got to write a whole chapter of the research paper focusing on methodology and remit of the project. I was also in charge of data visualisation, and it was my job to create charts and graphs from scratch in Excel, as well as to coordinate the team during the fact checking process.

Systems were in place to ensure that Industrial Placement students were provided with enough support. There is a section within HR that is in charge of early careers programmes only, and they organised events for the placement students. These events ranged from coffee randomisers to presentations about different areas of the Bank we can come back to as graduates. My team out in effort to support me while working from home, by reminding me that I can always call them and have a virtual catch up if I have any questions. They were very keen on giving me the social experience as much as they could in a virtual environment, through organising virtual socials, quizzes and games.

Culture was my favourite aspect of working at the Bank. Everyone was very friendly and collaborative, and senior employees are always willing to have a coffee catch up with the juniors and provide career advice. They also emphasise development and encourage the placement students to participate in internal training, seminars and lectures. Cross-Bank working is welcomed, and I got to do two secondments to other teams, which helped me get a clearer picture of where I would like to return on a graduate programme.

Overall, the experience was very enjoyable. The work was diverse and allowed me to develop a range of different skills, explore other areas of the Bank, and gain exposure to policy making. The team was very supportive and did their best to ensure I don't miss out on anything because I joined virtually. The only thing I feel I missed out on is the social aspect, as I didn't really get to interact with other placement students. Most of them weren't in London, as we were working vrtually, so I didn't even get to meet them in person.

Yes

I would encourage them to demonstrate that they embody the Bank's values. For example, think of good examples of when you worked as a part of a team and how you promoted diversity. At the assessment center, ensure that you clearly articulate your ideas, but don't try to dominate others. This is not seen as a favourable trait at the Bank, because the hallmark of its culture is inclusivity. You need to appreciate that others in your group exercise are important, and encourage them to speak up.