Summer Intern Review

I found the placement very enjoyable and informative providing a detailed review of numerous sectors of banking. The length of the placement allowed me the flexibility to explore new areas that I had not encountered or considered before.

My colleagues were very welcoming and accommodating in both of the centres that I was based in. They were very happy to help if assistance was required but they also encouraged me to develop my independence.

My supervisors were very supportive throughout my internship and they helped me to take the most out of my placement. They gave me a basic structure to follow throughout and then allowed me to choose my other activities on top that contributing their own advice.

Early each morning, I attended a team meeting before greeting my supervisor to decide on my plan for the day. I would normally spend the morning doing online learning and beginning to understand individual roles of members of the team. In the afternoon I would sit in on customer meetings in the branch or at their business premises.

I was allowed to choose which areas of commercial and retail banking I wanted to pursue and I was set research projects that would have direct benefits for the commercial centre. I was happy to see that the information that I had gathered would be used to improve HSBC's customer relationships as well creating new relationships and furthering their market prevalence.

This placement certainly enhanced my time keeping and management skills which have greatly helped me to organise myself during my first term at university. It has also ameliorated my communication skills that helped me to establish a strong friendship group with new people I have met whilst doing my degree.

I felt there was a great chemistry within the office and my colleagues respected my presence and made efforts to help me relax with the new environment. They were also interested in my personal history and willing to divulge information that helped me develop my own character. I quickly settled into the general rhythm of the office.

Although I did not find out where I would be based until shortly before commencing the placement, the rest of the six weeks were carefully structure and I was made aware of any functions or meetings that I should attend sufficiently in advance. I felt it was very appropriate that there was a large amount of flexibility and that I could lead my experience. There was also a day at the end of the placement where all the interns met in order to share experiences and draw the internship to a conclusion.

After completing a week of work experience with HSBC in each of the previous summer vacations, they were keen to extend our relationship by inviting me back to apply for this placement. They also made it clear that they would be happy to explore future internships and postings with them.

As detailed above, they have identified the possibility of extending our relationship and at the end of the placement they advertised the different avenues that I could explore in order to this. I think I was treated very well during the internship and I would carefully consider future employment or internships in the next few years and after completing my degree.

Although there were only twenty other interns on the same programme spread across the countries, I made some good friends who I am still in contact with and enjoyed sharing the internship with them.

As I commuted from home each morning, I did not have to pay accommodation costs and HSBC were happy to subsidise travel expenses when longer journeys were made such as to Manchester and London. Prices in Leeds were fairly representative of what I would normally expect in a large city.

Being based in two large cities, there were plenty of places to socialise on an evening at a reasonable price.

There was a volunteering day that we were encouraged to take part in and raise funds for a Guide Dogs scheme. This was also a chance to meet with the other interns based in other cities as well new people that were organising the day.