Barclays Corporate Banking Intern Review

We got the opportunity to experience many different areas of the bank (not just where you were placed) and to meet some very high up people.

Every single person in my team was happy to help with any questions I had to make sure I took away a lot from the internship.

We were assigned a Line Manager with whom I had weekly progress meetings with. We were also assigned a mentor (outside of your team in case you had worries within your team) and a buddy who was a current graduate.

We were set long-term projects that lasted the duration of the internship and then helped out with anything our team were doing at the time. We were also given an intern project alongside working hours so was never bored!

We were allowed to sit in at very important meetings and I met many directors in my short time there. The work I was given was on par with what a graduate would get.

Time keeping was an excellent skill I learnt whilst there as you could have many meeting in a day and have to keep on top of your work as well. My confidence increased hugely from interaction with new people. I also picked up business skills and how to behave in a business environment, something you cannot learn without experiencing for yourself.

The offices were always busy environments and was never silent and boring! Everyone interacted with each other and people often brought in cakes on their birthday.

The internship provided countless new experiences and exposure to new people. There was training at the start so you could really get to know the other interns. During the internship there were regular social events or organised breakfasts or lunches with important Barclays staff.

It really felt like there was no expense spared on the interns. We got to go to a special talk by the CEO of Barclays, had breakfasts with the heads of our section of the bank and meet senior people in our areas of interest. We were constantly pushed by the goals set at the beginning of the programme - we were certainly not making tea!

I was offered a place on the graduate scheme after my degree. A lot of the places are filled by interns so it is definitely a good idea to get in early!

The interns were a great bunch of people, all in the same position as you with similar interests. We usually met up for drinks at least 1 night a week after work.

London was very expensive to live but more so as I was only there for 8 weeks so had to rent student accommodation. I got the DLR to work every day which wasn't a bad price. The salary we were given more than covered my expense.

London is a huge place and there will always be somewhere to go. Canary Wharf is busy every day after work.

We had team building events while we were there. The HR staff also took us Dragon Boating and we had a half day of trying to break Guiness world records.