Operational and Business Management Intern Review
by abrdn
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
3.8
-
The Company
3.4
-
The Culture
3.9
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The internship has given me a great insight into the day-to-day operations of Standard Life. The most enjoyable element has definitely been the diverse nature of the job - in the sense that you meet various people within Operations and undertake more than one project.
My manager empowered me to have ownership over my project and had the upmost confidence in me to deliver it. I was treated by all staff members as a colleague rather than an intern.
I had weekly meetings with my manager and buddy to make sure I was on track. However, often my manager wasn't always freely available - but he was always free to Lync message nonetheless.
I was busy at certain points, but was often left with little to do.
I was given a role in the Proof of Concept which involved a high degree of responsibility.
The skills I developed particularly in confidence and communication will be carried forward with me to my History degree. The other skills I've gained, related to business, will be carried forward to my career after I graduate next year - everything I have learnt has been worthwhile.
The Company
The general atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. People love working at Standard Life and the average time of employment is testimont to that. I really felt part of this inclusive culture.
I felt as if my manager had one major project for me, but didn't really think about the organisation of my other minor projects - this could definitely improve.
Standard Life provided weekly career development sessions to support us through the internship, such as a session on Career Stories and Strengthsfinder. In terms of personal development, I set some goals for development with my manager which I believed I attained by the end, but we didn't check the progress I had made at our weekly 1:1.
The employees at Standard Life reflect how this is a great place to work. A graduate job seems like a good course of action.
The Culture
The social scene was a fantastic element to the 10 weeks here. Most interns stayed in shared accommodation in serviced apartments (all paid for) and we went out together every weekend. Standard Life subsidised a ceilidh for us and provided some after work drinks a couple of times.
Free accommodation but quite pricey to socialise - you expect that from a city centre though and the wage easily covered it.
Edinburgh is a great night out - plenty of good bars and clubs. The fringe was on for our last 3 weeks where you could easily sense the buzz about the place.
There were opportunities but these were limited. We did take part in a Charity Challenge at a special needs site which was so rewarding and one of the highlights of the 10 weeks.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
Scotland
August 2015
