Finance Services Intern Review

As a member of the master data management team, my role is to analyse and understand data, reporting this back to my line manager. My role as an intern, is also to develop my workplace skills, habits and my knowledge of the business. I also attend several meetings, one of which, the finance team supervisors and other members would give weekly updates, which accelerated my comprehension of how the business worked from a financial stand point. Overall, my role required creativity, problem solving, efficiency and simply to be a friendly face around the office.

I have become much more proficient in using Microsoft platforms, especially Outlook, Teams and Excel as I have to use all three, on a daily basis. I also improved on my networking skills as I had to gain new connections in order to navigate my way around the business and office. I have learned how to use work specific platforms and took E-learning courses where I learned different responsibilities I have an employee. Moreover, I further developed my collaborative, organisational and analytical skills.

I was given a considerable amount of responsibility as I was given one project. In this project I was asked to see if I could improve on and or change a particular function of the business through analysing confidential data, meaning that if I didn't manage to find a replacement or improvement there would be no negative impact on the business, however, if I successfully completed this task it would have a positive impact on the company, hence I had a fair amount of responsibility.

Before I had even started the internship, I was appointed a line manager, who I immediately got on with, as she was incredibly kind and down to earth, she also continued to help and guide me through the process as she was always available to do so. She also set up weekly meetings for us to catch up and think about our next steps, as well as meetings with other employees that I could gain knowledge from. On the first two days of the internship, the other interns and I were given an induction day, where we were made to feel very welcome and valuable to the business, we then had weekly meetings as a group where we would support one another and get to know more about we had coming up, such as workshops to develop our confidence. Finally, everyone around the office was always up for having a helpful conversation when they had time.

The company culture is nothing short of exceptional; company phrases such as "Doing What's Right", are not only said but are continuously demonstrated by the actions of the company as whole as well as individual employees, whether this is through the DEIWB team, the carbon net zero plan or the Unite Foundation, every week I was given another reason to enjoy working for unite students. Additionally, the work atmosphere is great, I've gone to lunch with other employee's, had enjoyable conversations in the office and everyone is hard working, so it makes working hard much easier. Additionally, the more relaxed dress code, makes the work environment more comfortable, it really is a "Home For Success".

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a Unite Students Intern and hope to stay in contact with several of the employees that made me feel welcome and who had interesting perspectives. At work, I didn't feel like an Intern, I felt like an employee. Furthermore, with the soft and hard skills I have learned, I am very glad that I took this opportunity and grateful that Unite Students presented me with it. I believe that I have made the most of this Internship, making me a much better job prospect.

Yes

If I were to advise someone applying for a role in unite students, I would suggest that they should definitely show as much of their personality as they can in the written application and interviews. I would advise against being too stern or rigid and that they should instead be relaxed and confident in their ability to get a job as who they truly are, because it's those differences in their personality that will make them stand out and be remembered.