Assistant Business Support Manager Review

I've found the work intresting and I've enjoyed the working environment. There are times where the work dries up and you have to go the extra mile and make your own work which can be a bit daunting for some interns. However, it has been a nice challenge and it has made me work even harder.

I believe that my colleagues value my work and I have recieved positive feedback on all items submitted. At times it can feel that your work is only a minor part and not making any difference, which can make it feel difficult to feel valued by your colleagues.

My manager and others within the business have been very supportive and have helped me when I required it. It really suprised me how many people in managerial positions were still willing to put time aside in their day to talk me through work and coordinate with me on a project.

My work has been very varied over the course of my internship. I have both supported and been responsible for several projects along the way, which has meant that I have something to do each day. However, there were times when the work dried up because of various reasons which left me with little to do.

I was responsible for a few projects during my internship which saw me taking on a managerial role, allowing me to be in charge of a team of people. During my internship I got to feedback on projects I had been involved in with people more senior than myself which was a big undertaking and one that I enjoyed. Having full independence was never something that was completely possible in the time of my internship, but it was nice to have a few responsibilities that feed into a bigger project.

As a student who studies an art subject, I was having a hard time figuring out how a banking internship would help me. However, being in the business and seeing how a business of this scale was run was really beneficial and it has influenced me to consider what I want out of a job. One of the major influences the internship has had on me is teaching me the importance of networking. Networking is one of those buzz terms that every student hears about but it wasn't until I was actually in a business where I had to connect with multiple people that I really understood and valued having a network of peers can help you in a business - It is definitely something I will keep in mind.

I worked a lot within the telephony offices of the group and, whilst it might not be the most exciting area of a business, it is one that captures a great atmosphere. Everyone is very friendly and in my first week, I spent the majority of the time with telephony staff who were all kind and willing to answer every questions I had. It's nice to work in an atmosphere that has a great sense of community.

The lead up to the internship was well organised and I recieved constant updates on the process that was being undertook. There were times earlier on in the internship where I wasn't too sure what I would be doing for the day. Before I got my own projects, I would often just shadow my manager which meant I didn't really get involved with the business until a bit later on.

Training is avaliable for all colleagues and we are advised to complete core trainings each month. A lot of my personal development came from working with others in the business and learning off them skills that would be beneficial in my role. My line manager was also very supportive with this, setting time aside to inform me of the opportunities avaliable, which included shadowing different members of the group and travelling to different offices to learn as much as I could.

Completing an internship gives you a good perspective of the business, one which I believe is beneficial in the application process. Whilst jobs cannot be guaranteed, it is beneficial to know that you have built those connections and could possibly use them in seeking employment in the future.

The social scene was great among the students. We all lived in the same student accommodation and used social media to set up events and local trips. It was nice living with 3-4 likeminded individuals in our flats and I've made some friends I will be keeping in contact with after the internship finishes.

Edinburgh is a great place for socialising, particullarly during festival season. Whilst it can be expensive at times, there are a lot of cheap places to have drinks, grab something to eat and there are plently of free activities on offer.

The nightlife is amazing! Edinburgh has such a wide and varied nightlife scene that there is something for everyone's taste.

Opportunities outside of work were fairly decent. I found that a lot of the activities I get up to outside of work were dictated by what my friends were doing at the time.