Summer Intern (Human Resources) Review

I really enjoyed working at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I loved the people I sat with and how they would readily give me assistance when I needed it, the events organised for the interns and the volunteering opportunities I went on!

I really felt valued by my colleagues. My manager, for instance, asked me to make my opinions known as I was a valid member of the team.

Even though my manager was often pressed for time, she would provide directions going forward and refer me to key individuals who she believed would be able to help with my assignments.

I cannot recall a single day that went by that I was bored from not having enough to do. On my second rotation, for instance, I knew that there was a meeting to look forward to or a call to make to employees in other regions.

The projects that were assigned to me were ones that I did not find mundane in the slightest. With all of these, I knew that they were tasks that came with much responsibility as they were concerned with the work teammembers do and the organisational culture of the bank.

Returning to school for my final year, I know that I am going to find the interviews that I conducted very helpful for my thesis. Beyond that, reading the policies, I saw a number of ways to use language to create a positive and inclusive workplace.

It was interesting. While, it was very corporate, there were points in the week you would have someone randomly give you candy or invite you to go along with them for a meal.

It was very well set up. There is a mentor and buddy scheme so each intern gets a buddy (someone normally close to your age that you can ask for advice on things you are unsure of) and a mentor (someone more senior who has been successful in the firm to provide tips for career advancement). By the time you start the internship, contact has been made so you have a couple of peole you know are with you and hoping to see you do well. Also, getting to my various teams, I already had access to the floors and projects to work on.

There were general training sessions for all interns each week in addition to a full set of traning sessions related to the department we would be working in the first week at the bank.

Would be awesome! The people I got to meet were warm and helpful, senior management members were available for conversations, there were great volunteering opportunities and I knew that people genuinely cared about me.

Yes. There were events organised by the Campus Team for all interns to places like Ice Bar, Tate Modern and Neo Bar. Beyond that, some interns organised their own events and invited all the others out with them.

You could go for drinks after work quite easily.

Yes! Some e-mails were sent by employee networks for volunteering and networking sessions.