SME and Mid Markets Intern Review

I enjoyed my placement and the people that I have met have been lovely. Although alot of the time I found myself with a lack of work to do and feeling slightly obselete. I did learn things from my internship, but not as much as I would have liked to. I have gained extra skills from working in a more professional environment but very little knowlege or skils actually related to the job/ profession.

My colleagues were always there to support and help me. My managers although not often present communicated alot via phone and email. They always asked what I wanted to do and what more they could do for me. The reasearch and work I did for the team was valued and they did make me feel as though what I was doing was worthwhile and not just something to keep me occupied during my time at the bank.

My managers were increadibly supportive during my internship. If I needed information that was hard to aquire or there was something that I wanted to do, then they were always there to help push and get me what I wanted or needed. They regulary met with me about 1 to two tinmes a week to check my progress with the tasks and projects that I had been given. They would always give me constructive critisim as well which I really appreciated since it helped mt improve as an employee while I was there.

There was not alot of work given to me. I would continually ask for more but it wouldn't be given. I feel that the bank could have made much more use of me and didnt get the true value of me. the tasks that were given to me were quite simple and easy so were completed alot faster than was expected of me so gave me long periods of time with nothing to do, but since I didn't feel that I could leave work early I would have to try drag tasks out over longer periods of time. I think part of the problem is the cost of the intern doesn't come out of your teams cost budget so wheather you do anything productive or not doesnt have much of an effect on them.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility. I was allowed to used different systems that the main employees used them selves. I was also trusted to handle customer accounts and details to make changes as well as call the customer myself. This mean they trusted me enough to do these things but also gave me actions that I had to fullfil that would reflect upon the bank and its image.

I was really gratefull to my managers with how they helped me with my presenting skills. It has always been noted that I am not a terribly confident person and this is something I wanted to improve. So my managers pushed me outside of my comfort zone and made me lead meetings, present presentations I had given to senior management and call people that I had not met before and were high up. After each time I was told what I did well and what I could improve. By the end I am alot more confident and comfortable with more general taks which Will help me in any job, but especially for group presentations at Uni.

I was placed on the top floor of my office. The atmosphere was increadibly variable from day to day. Sometimes it would just be me and one other person on the whole floor which would be a little lonely but I would get alot of work done. Other days there would be about 50 people who I all knew and got on well with so would have conversations with. This was nice and friendly atmosphere but did mean there was alot of distraction. Overall I didn't mind it was okay, but I would have like dto get out off the office more like I was promised but didn't get to.

The placement at the begining was very poorly organised. No one knew what to do with me or what they should give me as work to do. This resulted in me being shiffted around to different departments who I was dumped on each time. They also had no idea what I should do so did alot of shadowing and meanial tasks. This made me feel not valued by the bank but also embaresed at the fact I had been left with people who didn't really want me each time. This settled down about halfway through as I was given a project to do that actually gave me some purpose. However I feel that this should have been sorted out ealier in the 10 week program/

I don't think the company has invested much in me. They haven't given me any sort of training or skills relevant to the job. If I get onto the graduate program i feel as though I would be in the same position as anyone who hadn't done the internship. I don't feel as though It has given me any real advantage. This is also reflected in coments from other interns on the program with me.

The graduate program pays well and I have noticed that they do fast track alot of the younger people who are on it. However im my divison there does seem to be alot of job stagnation with limited promotion prospects. Alot of people have been in the same job which would be my entry level for 30 to 50 years. This is slightly unappealing the thought of being in one job for the rest of your career, so another department would perhaps be better for me.

We all live in different places as interns and there are only three of us here. Therefore we do go out for drinks and meals after work and hang out together but not as much as we would like to. I have realy enjoyed spending time with them its just hard to organise things. This is partly because my reasonable commute to work of about an hour and a half and I am increadibly dependant on trains aswell.

Southampton is priced about the same as anywhere else. If you live far enough away accomodation (with bills included) is provided for you for free so food is all you really have to work about. There are a fair few night clubs, bars and restaurnats. its not a bad city to be in.

Southampton nightlife is quite good. There is an oceana quite close to the office down by the waterfront. There are also alot more clubs in town and you can switch between which ones you stay in easily. Everything is pretty central and close to eachother

My team never made any effort to do anything outside of work. Everyone pretty much leaves at five on the dot to get home. Therefore there isn't much of an office social side out of work hours. This was a little disapointing as it would have been nice to bond with the team more.