Technology Developer Intern Review

Most days would start with team meetings where we discussed progress on different jobs we were working on. We then would have time to carry out our own tasks, join in different meetings that were happening within the team, or within Barclays as a whole and carry out training on any new software we were using. My role was to help my team complete their tasks, while also working on an intern project with the other intern on my team. There were also large weekly team meetings in which we could join, as well as joining Barclays intern wide meetings for networking and general information about the company.

I developed my existing skills of communication, time management and an agile way of working. I gained more confidence in presenting ideas to my team and sharing what we had been working on. I also learnt new skills using Ab Initio, a piece of software that I had not used before and it was mainly what my team used. I also expanded my skills in data visualization by using Tableau for one of our intern projects.

Yes, I was given tasks that were on a live sprint cycle, and that we were doing for clients. Although they were small tasks, it was still interesting to see how important they were in the team completing their goals. I was also given the responsibility to create presentations and present to senior members of Barclays. We were given the responsibility to manage our own time and produce what was needed by deadlines set for us.

I received a lot of support throughout my internship. There were many different levels of support, from phone calls with my line manager, video calls with other members on the team to help with issues, as well as discussions and guidance from those running the internship program and fellow interns. I always knew who to contact with any issues that I had, and knew that I would get the help that was needed at any point.

The general atmosphere was very positive, and everyone was always available to help. Barclays are very inclusive and made sure that all interns felt welcome, with the different networking events, and including us in real-life events within the company. Barclays gave us many different opportunities to ask questions and feel included, as well as showcasing what they were like. We also had fortnightly cakes and talk sessions where we would join a video call and have a chat about some interesting piece of tech someone has created.

I enjoyed my internship as it was introducing me to the real world of work, which is different to university. It provided me with many great opportunities and allowed me to grown in confidence in my skills. There was the chance to come up with a pitch for a challenging problem set by the CTO for Barclays, and then the top 5 teams would get the chance to pitch to them and my team won which was great for my confidence. I enjoyed having different tasks set to me and being able to complete them in my own time but still meeting deadlines.

Yes

Just go for it and try your best. Do plenty of research on the company and their values and way of working. Be your true self and don't be afraid to ask questions along the way. Don't think too much about interviews and technical challenges, do your best and that will shine through. Also, in your technical interview, don't be afraid not to know something, if you don't know it be honest and say so and give it your best guest!