Windows System Adminstration Review

The work was interesting and a challenge. I got plenty of exposure to different parts of the firm, in both technology and the business side.

Was a great team to work in. I was integrated fully, even going on call and being left as the escalation for the support team.

My manager actively sought to provide me opportunities to learn new things, provided me with new skills, and books to read to improve, I also had a chance to move to between technical items, reporting and project work.

Was very busy during the placement, but then investment banks are very busy generally. I enjoyed being stretched, and to succeed at the bank you can't be shy of hard work.

Was a full team member, included in the team rota, and on-call rota. Also was the sole technical consultant for a number of projects which meant I was representing my team.

The first year taught me an incredible amount about myself, and without that year I do not think my degree classification would have been as high as it was. The skills I picked up have been used in my current graduate role, and have been invaluable in aspect even outside my professional life.

Table Football was a regular fixture during lunch, and office was a good team place to be, it had recently been opened so it was new and very pleasant to work in.

The placement was in it's first year when I joined, as a result it was a little disjointed and not as well supported as possible. However the current scheme has greatly improved and has been actively seeking input from past participants and current graduates (I'm both these things) to continuing improving it.

Placement students were provided opportunities for training as well as provided with some access to the senior managers in the group.

All the graduates within my year (2009) have been recruited from placements, the bank uses that as an extremely strong method of recruitment, and greatly values employees with a year's experience under their belt before beginning the full graduate program.

There were 11 placement students, and there was a very strong social bond between us, we did training together, often went for lunch together and had social events both company organised and self-planned after work.

Lived at home, worked in both London and Camberley (Surrey). London is expensive, but we were paid London salaries, and it was more than comfortable.

London is great. Camberley is not so good, that said it was possible to have a beer or two, and there were chances to get lunch at restaurants etc.