Customer Manager Review

I really enjoyed my internship, in fact it was the most enjoyable internship by far. This was mainly down to the fact that the team I was working with gave me a significant amount of responsibility and didn't leave me bored for weeks and the work I was involved in, as well as being really interesting and important, really developed me as a person by pushing my confidence boundaries and boosting my self confidence.

I felt extremely valued as a member of the local directors team and the colleagues I was working with continually ensured that I felt like this. My main line manager, Luke, was constantly telling me to speak up if I felt that I wasn't being stretched enough and wanted to take on more responsibility which I really appreciated given my previous poor internship experience and both him and my second line manager, Linsey, were continually praising me for my good efforts and the work I produced. This was really encouarging as I felt like they were actually taking notice of the hard work I put into anything I produced and were always around to help me should I need it.

I was given amazing support and guidance by my management supervisors. I had both of their contact details and repeatedly told to contact them at any time during the day if I wanted some help or needed advice on a job they had set me. They were very supportive and encourgaing regarding the work I produced and also helped support my personal development, purposely giving me objectives that may have been a slight challenge due to my lack of confience. This really helped push me as a person and I didn't worry about doing things wrong or making mistakes as I knew they would be there to guide me.

This internship was the first internship where the work I was given on a daily basis was a perfect balance. I was never too busy at any point or felt that I could not cope but I was never bored with no work to do. If i finished the work that I had been set on the day, i.e. branch visits, note taking of my visits etc. there was always extra work that needed to be done in the directors office in Rochester. However, given the level of detail I preferred to go into for my branch visits, it was a rare occasion that I was left with nothing to do and seeking more. It was plenty to do and was really enjoyable as I had the freedom to produce the results how I liked.

I feel like I was given the perfect amount of responsiblity. I was in control of trying to improve the service customers received at Lloyds and had a goal to achieve over 70% for customer service. The fact that I was in control of this meant that the work I was set was crucial and important and wasn't just set menial tasks that they were too busy to do. It was a really nice feeling to be given that responsibility, to go into the different branches and work out why it wasn't acheiving what it should and how it can, in the future, achieve targets. It was never too much responsibility as I had the support of my colleagues if I needed it and was never given tasks that were out of my authority.

I really believe I learnt some valuable lessons and the skills I have developed will continue to assist me in my degree studies. I think the most growth I made during my time with Lloyds was in terms of personal growth and personal skills that will enable me to have the confidence to speak out about how I feel and to have the confidence to assert my opinions to others without feeling unsure or uneasy about them. I have learnt to trust my own opinion more than I ever have before and I believe this confidence will help me in serveral ways for the future, whether this by via interview, in university or in general life.

The general atmosphere in the office was a really pleasant one where the colleagues all spoke to me on a regular basis and made me feel extremely welcome. It was a little bit difficult at first as I didnt really have an office due to the fact I was going around the branches in North Kent and was very mobile but once I gained a little bit of confidence I found the atmopshere in the other branches extremely pleasant. The colleagues were always keen to talk to me and there were several collegaues who offered me their emails and numbers should I want to ask any questions about Lloyds or how they got to be where they are.

It was definitely very well organised and the managing director and his colleague had already got some ideas in their heads about what they would do with me before I even arrived. This was really good from my perspective, as my last internship didnt have anything prepared and there were days where I was left twiddling my thumbs. The managing director also took into consideration my thoughts on the project and very much adapted it to what I wanted to do. There was never a moment where what I was doing was left unclear as every friday there was a team meeting where Luke would give me my objectives for the week and we'd discuss my findings and thoughts on the previous weeks work.

I think that the company did invest in me as they did ensure to train me on my first week here at Lloyds. My first day I was invovled in an induction session with an experienced colleague who showed me all the different processess and the ways that they measured customer satisfaction and excellent customer service. That week was like an induction week where I would visit the branches across North Kent and report back to an experienced colleague who would then support me in my note taking and findings.

Future emplymeent prospects with this organisation are very appelaing and having had an insight into the work place and what goes on around it, I would very much like to have a future job with LLoyds. I have seen how the branches run and what they are continually striving for (customer satisfaction) and I believe I would work well in the Bank one day. I have been referred onto a Lloyds Graduate Scheme by my managers who were very impressed and pleased with the way I performed and at the end of university, should I be accepted into the graudate scheme from my positive referral, I will be trained for 2 years in 4 placements to hopefully end up on the Lloyds career ladder somewhere.

There was plenty of opportunities to get invovled outside of work from other Lloyds scholars as well as charity events/make a difference day with my own colleagues. Although there was perhaps a little less activity from the Lloyds Scholars, this is due to me being placed in Rochester instead of London which is a chocie that I decided to make given perosnal circumstances. Being in Rochester and closer to home suited me better and to sacrifice a few Lloyds scholars opportunities because of this, was soemthing I was prepared to do.