This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 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
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at Barclays. Working here has provided me with great insight into a real-life work environment and gave me the opportunity to put my University skills into practise.
What stood out to me the most during my internship was how welcoming my colleagues were when I entered the team. This played a great role in how quickly I settled into a comfortable work-flow.
My manager, although at times busy (which is expected), provided a lot of guidance and support. Whenever I required assistance, he was willing to set aside some time to provide some useful guidance on how to tackle the challenges I was facing in my work
How busy I was changed on a daily basis, but I felt I was given enough work that I kept busy during my hours but not so much that I felt stressed or pressed for time when completing my set tasks.
I feel I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility in regards to being an intern. It is understandable that I was not given work that could potentially break a system and cost the company money, but I still feel the work I was given will have a positive impact on those who use it going forward.
The skills I have developed will be extremely beneficial to my studies looking towards my third year. Not only do I now know the areas I have strengths in, I am also now more aware of my weaknesses and it is these I can focus on to better myself for the future.
The Company
The office had a good balance of periods of socialising and focused working periods. This appealed to me as I prefer to keep my head down and work for long periods, but also gave me the chance to take a break whenever I wanted and have a chat or two with my colleagues.
The internship was well organised. There were never any moments were there was confusion as to what was meant to be happening, which again made settling in that much easier.
The company provided ample training which ensured I was prepared for the work ahead of me. Working in a financial environment, it was essential I received training on compliance and the likes. This was all supplied in earnest.
Flexi Time
Subsidised/Company Gym
Working from home
Future employment would be very appealing. Not only is my team friendly, but that is the general vibe across the whole organisation. The incentive of working in such an environment with friendly colleagues makes this so.
The Culture
All other interns were very friendly, which made for a good social scene. It was easy to strike up a conversation with others, and everyone was always willing to join in on any activities after work.
It wasn't a surprise that the costs associated with working in Canary Wharf were high. However, the organisation provides a relocation fee which covers most reasonably priced rents. Socialising across London generally costs a lot, so spending at times can't be avoided.
The nightlife in the area was extremely vibrant at the weekends, but there were opportunities to go out during the weekf for the more adventurous.
There were plenty of opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work, including multiple sports clubs which we as interns were encouraged to join. Not only sports, but other activities offered included charitable work.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
London
August 2015