This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
-
The Company
-
The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
Working for one of the world’s largest financial institutions allowed me to visualise the breadth and depth of the financial services industry working through challenging economic times, in an era rich in technology adoption and automation. The opportunity to transfer textbook ideologies into real-life scenarios through a series of strategic initiatives and operational level projects has provided me with an unrivalled learning platform. This learning experience was supplemented by the ability to co-ordinate and network with some of the brightest and most innovative people in the industry.
I felt valued by my colleagues on both a professional and a social basis. Working on "real" projects from day one allowed me to gain recognition from my managers and colleagues.
Managers, mentors and buddies were on hand to provide me with support and guidance throughout my Industrial Placement. This guidance ranged from helping me settle in (pc log-ons, social events) right up to my professional growth and development (ITIL V3). Also, through the BAML mentoring programme, I found it valuable to spend time with people who had been in my position 5-10 years ago.
As I was working on mainly project based work, the workload varied from one week to the next. This worked out well as I was able to spend the "quieter" times collating research for my final year at University.
On my particular projects, I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility. By the same token, managers always made themselves available if I had any problems or uncertainties.
I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to develop my skills from both a technical and an interpersonal standpoint. Liaising with senior associates on a day-to-day basis helped develop my interpersonal skills in a professional environment. Also, I was able to "brush up" on my technical skills through a series of training courses throughout the placement.
The Company
The environment was friendly and upbeat, despite working through challenging economic times.
Regular training events, networking events and review sessions gave the impression that BAML are very well organised.
Initial training week covered things like Excel, PowerPoint and generic IT packages. Also incorporated into the training week were a number of sessions to develop softer skills e.g. giving successful presentations. I was then able to complete my ITIL V3 Foundation certificate towards the end of my placement.
Subsidised Canteen
Subsidised/Company Gym
National Travel
Company Parties/Events
Got a place on the 2013 grad programme.
The Culture
Yes - there were regular opportunities to socialise, whether this be through "after-work drinks" or sporting events.
Working in the North West, I can't complain about the cost of living compared to the London folk.
Standard North-West.
Football, touch-rugby, 5k and various volunteering schemes.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Information Technology
North West
July 2012