Summer Intern (retail placement) Review

Overall, I enjoyed the placement. However I felt it would have been more enjoyable if there was more for me to do on a day to day basis. Personally, I do not find retail banking interesting. On the other hand the location of my branch was extremely good. I particularly enjoyed meeting up with all the other interns at the induction, regional office, First Direct and 8CS.

I felt like some colleagues valued me. For example when I was on the meet and greet floor, the manager and colleagues would value my assistance. In terms of value added to the branch, I felt that (other than delivering excellent customer service) I could not add much value. I carried out a project which in the long run could add value to the branch. I felt some colleagues did not value me as I was asked to get coffee and do small jobs for them that required me to go outside my branch.

My line manager left in the first week of me joining- they did not really give me much guidance or advice going into the internship. I was then assigned a new manager who would have brief conversations with me about what I was doing in the day and if I was completing required tasks.

For 3-4 hours a day I would cover my colleagues and was therefore kept busy. The days where I sat in on appointments made me more busy and I found I didn't get bored. By the last week of the internship I was going into work knowing I had did not have much to do. It would have been useful to run through the guidance timetable in the induction with a manager, intern or graduate who could give more of an insight into how to keep busy on a day to day basis and useful activities to do.

I understand that in these placements it is difficult to have a lot of responsibility. In terms of guiding customers and helping on reception I was given a lot of responsibility. In this respect I am responsible for the customer experience, which, considering HSBC strategy moving forward, is a large responsibility. I was able to gain access to cards, statements, see balances and personal profiles. Otherwise, there was not much responsibility; no strict deadlines to be met and no work for colleagues.

I was going into a retail placement knowing that I wasn't particularly interested in this sector of the banking industry. Whilst mandatory learning was extremely boring, it has taught be vital information and general knowledge. Spending time in a customer facing environment let me improve vital soft and communication skills, which are skills for life.

It depended on footfall and how well everyone was meeting targets for the day or week.

I have scored harshly on this question. Thank you to the graduate recruitment team for organising everything. I think the internship programme is generally well set up. The induction was fun however I felt it could have been more informative regarding how we get the most of out our placements and what to do when we get in the branches. I had problems setting up email and other systems (in 7 weeks I only had email for 2 weeks). This affected my communication with the graduate team, regional office, buddy, colleagues in the branch and interns. I felt like the branch were unprepared for me to spend time with them. Although the experience days were good fun and well organised when I arrived, we were told about some days extremely late. In my opinion since the bank is undergoing organisational effectiveness, if the bank were to give us information early they could save money in expenses.

It is obvious that the bank have invested a lot of time and money into interns and graduates. We had talks from speakers who were extremely high in the business which was a valuable experience. Personally the experience days illustrate that HSBC are willing to invest a phenomenal amount in their employees. However, when I was in the branch I felt my colleagues and manager did not invest much time in me.

HSBC has a global reputation. I would seriously consider a place on a graduate scheme if one was offered although I will also be looking at opportunities elsewhere.

On the intern experience days it was great that all the interns could socialise and make friends. I was based quite far away from other interns. I was invited to social events in the branch.