Retirement Intern Review

I really enjoyed my time at TW. The hours were ideal, the people very friendly and the work interesting.

People were very encouraging and give good feedback about my work. I could see the work I was given contributing to projects.

If I needed something explained people were very happy to help. My line manager met with me a few times to check how I was doing. I highlighted a problem about not being very busy but she couldn't really help me much as the work just wasn't there.

It depended week by week. At the start I had plenty to get on with as I had presentations to prepare, group intern projects and training to go through. However once I'd finished this work was lighter which made the day a lot longer! Towards the end I was given a big project designing an excel document which took a few days. This kept me busy and was very enjoyable being able to design and see a project through.

Everything I produced was checked by at least one person (if not two or three) and so it wasn't too important to get things right first time. However this is more to do with Towers Watson's own professional excellence criteria that everything is checked and reviewed. A lot of the things I was given though were destined ultimately for clients.

I do a science degree so none of the information on Pensions will directly help me in my degree but obviously these will be very valuable if I choose to go down this career path. After a long project in Excel I became more proficient and this could be useful in my degree.

The office was rarely quiet and people were always open for a chat. Hours tended to be quite flexible as long as you got your work done.

The internship was very well organised and there were plenty of tasks, outside day-to-day work, for interns to get on with. We were told from day one in the office what we were to do and for what deadlines.

The firm gave us packed first few weeks of different training programs that they give to the graduates that arrive late August so we got similar training to them! Even the more senior associates would give you there time if you had a query about the work or ideas.

I still haven't decided if this is the career for me but having (nearly) completed the internship I have a very high view of the actuarial profession and would take a job offer very seriously if I was offered one.

The other interns were all good fun and we did something together at least a couple of nights a week such as playing sport or going to the pub! There were plenty of work events organised such as a boat party that was free for interns, T20 cricket match, rounders. The interns also organised a pub quiz and wine tasting event which many attended and were very well received in the office.

Reigate, while not as expensive as London, could still be quite pricey. Cheapest pint in town was around £3.80 and many pubs even more expensive. Food prices weren't too bad but there is only a Morrisons in Reigate which has got to be the worst supermarket I've ever been too. I rented a house in Reigate only 10mins away from work and seemed to get the going rate of £125pw which was subsidised by TW with £100pw. If this was a worry there are cheaper areas around such as Redhill.

There were plenty of pubs and restaurants which opened quite late at the weekends. There is also one club which was very cheesey but good fun. Obviously London is only 30-45 mins by train if you want a big night out at the weekend.

Reigate is quite well situated, being close to London and the south coast, and so are plenty of opportunities to get away. A bike ride was organised by colleagues.