RateMyPlacement’s guide to undergraduate placements & internships in Banking
You haven’t told us what you're interested in | Change This
Work & Industry Guide
Real Experiences
Hi guys, it's Chris here. Meet Hayley. She's on Internship at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group this year. Find out what she's been up to, and what a typical student experience is like on Internship in the Banking industry.
Also here in the Banking Work & Industry Guide you can find information on some of the key-player companies, as well as jobs and reviews you may want to read through.
Hayley at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group
- Experience
- Internship
- Company
- The Royal Bank of Scotland Group
- Job Title
- Markets Summer Intern
- Dates
- June 2011 – August 2011
- University
- University of Manchester
- Course
- Politics & East European Studies BA
Questions & Answers
- What did you do on a daily basis?
I mostly worked in branch, speaking to customers on a daily basis and helping them solve any queries they had. A lot of my time was spent shadowing and learning from colleagues. I was routinely involved in all kinds of meetings. I was also given a personal project to complete over the course of the internship.
- Highlights of the job?
It’s a really sociable environment where no two days are the same. Having so much face-to-face interaction with customers was great, as was socialising with my team and the other interns.
- What did you learn?
I learnt how a retail bank operates from the cashiers all the way up to management. I’ve improved my communication and teamwork skills, while talking to customers has made me a more confident person. Plus I’ve definitely learnt to think on my feet.
- How has your internship affected your career prospects?
I would say it’s enhanced my career prospects considerably. I’ve got a great insight into retail banking and many transferable skills, and the internship has certainly reinforced my decision to work in the financial industry.
- Any top tips for a student interested in an internship here?
Be pro-active. The opportunities are there, but no one’s going to spoon-feed them to you. It’s down to you to go out and get them.
Background
The financial services sector is vast, and the variety of jobs within the sector is equally vast.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that more than one million people work in the sector, making the industry a key driver within the UK economy. The people who work in the industry therefore can rightly feel that they make an important contribution to British life.
While the sheer size of the banking and finance sector makes it hard to describe and define, broadly speaking, it can be broken down into banking, insurance, asset management, organised and informal markets and a range of supporting professional services.
There are several types of banks and it can be difficult to grasp the differences between each of these banking institutions. Commercial banks are the most common, and include global banks such as RBS and HSBC. An investment bank brings investors (i.e. governments, institutions or large corporations) together with new opportunities that will deliver a return on their investment. In return, the investment bank receives a fee. Many banks are both commercial and investment banks. Private banks provide banking services to high net-worth individuals exclusively, community banks are smaller and focus on local services and online banks operate over the internet.
While the recent economic downturn has had a significant impact upon employment, positive signs are clear in the graduate market for those interested in a career in banking and finance. High Fliers report that vacancies in the banking and finance sector across the Times Top 100 Employers has increased by 5.3% since 2010 and the median average graduate starting salary across these employers was £30,000.
The opportunities available to students within the sector are endless and the best way to gain first hand exposure in a business is to undertake an internship or work placement. Not only will this enhance your employability but it will put you a step ahead of your peers in securing an early offer of a graduate position.
To find out more about intern or graduate opportunities at RBS, please visit www.makeitrbs.com
Jobs in Banking
| Job Title | Company | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2012 Corporate Industrial Placement in Operations, IT, Finance
Nomura
Application deadline: 5th Feb 2012 |
 |
|
|
|
Schroders New Finance Capital
Schroders
Application deadline: 12th Feb 2012 |
 |
|
|
|
Opportunities in IT
Schroders
Application deadline: 12th Feb 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Opportunities in Investment
Schroders
Application deadline: 12th Feb 2012 |
|
|
|
|
Opportunities in Distribution
Schroders
Application deadline: 12th Feb 2012 |
|
|
Work Experience Videos Guides
We’ve teamed up with those employment experts at Career Player to ensure you get some cracking advice on finding your perfect placement or internship in Banking.
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn