Finance intern Review

I really enjoyed my placement at BAE Systems- more than I ever expected I would. I started with very little knowledge of accounting and finance, and my excel skills were practically zero. Through the challenging and constructive work I was set, I’ve learnt an incredible amount and now feel so much more confident applying for graduate schemes and jobs.

The objectives I was given to complete during my placement were tasks that my manager would have completed had I not been there, therefore I really did feel like a valuable addition to the team. The fact that the tasks were challenging and not simply making the coffee or doing the photocopying again meant I learnt an incredible amount and felt like my work was really making a valuable contribution.

At no point during my time at BAE was I treated as a hindrance, as can be the case in some internships. My personal development was given high importance and the emphasis was upon what I wanted to gain from the experience. The support therefore from managers was great, I didn’t ever feel stupid asking for help, and their guidance was key to fact that I have learnt such a great deal.

The amount of work I had to do varied from week to week, but I was never sat around with nothing to do. Working in finance, month end weeks were very busy, however I worked towards set objectives during my placement which meant I constantly had do something to be working on/towards; I was then assessed on these objectives at the end of the placement.

I was given a lot of responsibility during my placement which was daunting at first, and did slightly feel like being thrown in at the deep end, however I think this helped me to learn quickly on the job and it was great to be trusted with such responsibility. From completing month end reporting packs independently, to presenting to senior figures, I was never left to feel like ‘the intern’ but a valued addition to the team.

I don’t study for a degree in accountancy, but am looking at a career in finance, so the knowledge and skills that I’ve learnt over the last 3 months will be completely invaluable in the application process for graduate schemes and jobs. To know that I can now go into a job with a concrete base of knowledge and excel skills, which is brilliant and has boosted my confidence.

The atmosphere in my office was quite relaxed which immediately put me at ease. Even very senior figures would be happy to have a quick chat with you. It was also however a very busy office, which, I believe, definitely helped to motivate everyone to get work done quickly and effectively.

The scheme was very well organised, though I believe this was mainly due to my manager being very ahead of the game. I had my desk, laptop, passwords etc, set up and ready before my arrival. I was also invited down to the office before my placement to meet the team and look around which definitely made the starting the internship at lot easier!

There was no real formal training process that, as interns, we were invited or encouraged to complete. However I feel the amount of time each manager invested personally in the intern they were managing made up for this, I think I learnt as much, if not more, from working closely with senior managers than from any set training course. Our placements were focused strongly around what we wanted to gain from them too, and our personal development was always at the forefront, so there was always an intrinsic focus on individual development.

After my experience on the internship I will most definitely apply for the graduate scheme. There are a wealth of graduate opportunities on offer, and having worked alongside and spoken to many graduates during my three months, the feedback about the schemes are overwhelmingly positive. As interns we’ve also been strongly encouraged to apply, so it’s nice to know that they would like us to return!

I had the most amazing social life with my fellow interns. I think I was probably incredibly lucky to have met a really great group of people who all got along and were up for socialising on a regular basis. It really did make the experience for me. Had I not had such a fun time in my spare time, my working life may not have been so enjoyable too!

I worked in Portsmouth, and the accommodation was quite expensive. It was also very difficult to find accommodation to rent for such a short period of time, so would recommend looking well in advance. In terms of the general cost of living, I would say it’s fairly average in terms of Southern prices.

The nightlife was great, but again I think this was mainly due to the group of interns I met. We made a real effort to socialise regularly, so had we not been so up for getting together, it really wouldn’t have been the same, and the Portsmouth nightlife was fairly decent for a small city.

There were no 'company organised' activities, so I would have perhaps not had a great time if the other interns I met hadn’t been proactive in organising to go out for dinner, drinks or other activities. I know at other BAE sites, there wasn’t much of a social scene, so I think I was probably pretty lucky in this respect.