SUMMER INTERN RETAIL Review

I've enjoyed being in retail for past 6 weeks, everyone has been very friendly and I loved the challenge alot of the Canary Wharf customers brought to me on Meet & Greet. HSBC made sure the interns were made to feel very welcome and valued as part of the workforce, ensuring we were involved in as much as possible right from the induction. Without alot of this it could've been a little less fun waking up to go to work everyday.

Very much so. Retail gives you a real sense of teamwork from the mix of work and play. There is a very inclusive atmosphere and a degree of respect for new and existing customers and this meant my first couple of weeks were full of support.

Throughout the internship I've had no hesitancy with regards to contacting my line manager and asking for help and guidance. I think we both got to know each other in the first week enough to establish how much guidance I'd need especially since I had a booklet listing a To Do list and my own Personal development plan. Support has always been available and I believe having that there always gives a naive intern little comfort in such a new environment. I should also add my line manager tried to help me contact a senior figure within the bank to help me with my project which I found extremely thoughtful and sincere.

I was given the freedom & trust to go about balancing mandatory learning and shadowing, with advice in the right direction for anything they thought I would find helpful. I found this really helped at the beginning when everything was still very new, so I could try Meet & Greet, then do some shadowing, then do some learning. It meant I was always interested and alert. Towards the end though I've settled into a routine which may have been a little tedious to a new intern just starting out.

I was responsible mainly for ensuring all mandatory learning was completed and doing most of what my Line manager and I agreed to at the start of the internship. With more experience, I felt my place in the team becoming more and moe prominent, with colleagues asking me to book appointments and print bank statements. It made me feel like I was part of the team and not a burden like I know some interns and apprentices can feel. My work was apperciated and made a difference to everyones experience of the bank, including the customers.

I always thought I was patient and polite, but being on meet & greet with demanding customers or having to find a solution to those who cannot speak english very well has meant I've had to re-evaluate and communicate with others better - a vital skill improved. I've also become more independent, having to take responsibilities for my own pay, holidays and time management with regards to work and play. Whilst being here I've also gained some idea on how to manage my money better and i've achieved a better undefrstanding of the financial world which i think will help me greatly when I hopefully begin studying management.

Very organised and inclusive, most if not all details were thought of and the induction had all of us comfortable and ready to go

I was given a personal development plan & line manager managerother employees, an interactive e-learning list to do and opportunities to take advantage of some of the ben efits an hsbc employee gets. Making a new entrant feel welcome and included meant i gave them back alot and they returned the favour through a varied and exciting internship

Although maybe not in retail banking, I'd love tocome back and try commercial/corporate banking before something like investment banking where my itnerest really lies, although i'd like to work my way up!

Lots of events and fun socialising activites in and around Canary Wharf from ping pong bars to racenight

Not the cheapest, but still lots of fun and worth it when affordable

Much better than Newcastle - everyone is actually interested in socialising and dancing a bit

We got to take over a charity shop and do team challenge to see who could get the msot revenue above the stores usual, as well as lots of intern meet ups, lunches and nights out. London doesnt disappoint!