Summer Intern Review

It was really fun working in the city, and the people were lovely.. but there were times where I didn't have work to do, even after asking everyone around the office if I could spend time with them, attend meetings etc. and it got quite boring just sitting at my desk doing online learning.

The staff were absolutely lovely. They invited me out to all their events, helped out whenever I needed it. Even sponsored me for a charity run that I was doing for the company. There were a mixture of ages, but all the young staff would go out more and invite me along.

My manager was always around, and asked if I needed help with anything. He gave me a couple of projects to do and was always asking for regular feedback on how I was getting on. We had a one to one meeting at the beginning where he took the time to get to know me and told me a bit about himself, and towards the end he evaluated my progress and we discussed my progress at the bank.

At the beginning of the internship I was given projects, was attending meetings, was asked to help others out with external projects and I was busy which was great. But from week 4 of the internship, I had finished all my projects and had nothing to do. I asked some staff members if I could shadow them but I felt that things had taken a wrong turn given that you're technically more likely to do boring stuff in the first few weeks and then things pick up in the last weeks, but it was the opposite here. I was bored often, and was given the odd PA work to do.

Not much. I couldn't get access to a lot of the system as I required a laptop for it, and they said there wasn't any point in me getting a laptop if I'm only there for 7 weeks.

I was able to witness what it was like to work in the bank but I can't say I got a first hand experience of it as I wasn't given enough responsibility. I learned quite a lot from others but wasn't really able to put it into practice.

The atmosphere was good. The people would be laughing/joking about one minute and then they would get back to work. They all had good relationships with one another too.

It wasn't very well organised at all. My manager didn't know I was coming, nor did many people in the office. My manager was unaware of what I was here for, what I was allowed/not allowed to do, what I was meant to get out of this internship etc. I didn't have access to the system for a while, and I feel that you're not meant to spend your internship on the phone to IT support trying to get access to certain things. There wasn't enough work for me to do and I didn't feel like I was contributing to the bank.

I wasn't seen as a true member of staff. At times I felt like I was being treated in a slightly patronising manner. So not much was invested in me and I felt that they didn't stretch and challenge me.

I think you're very likely to get offered a job with the company once you've done the internship or two with them. I haven't had talks with them yet about mine as it is still early days.

I was out with the group at least once a week, and I was taken to quite cool bars/restaurants

Drinks and dinner are quite expensive. I'm lucky that I didn't have to rent in London or that would have been worse.

London is obviously going to have a brilliant night life. I worked in the centre too, so there are bars/clubs all around.

I partook in three charity events during my time at HSBC, and expenses were all paid. There are also networking events that are held in the tower, so there is always something going on which is great. I can say that the company are brilliant in terms of work/life balance.