Pensions Actuarial Intern Review

by Aon

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.8/5
  • The Role
    4.9
  • The Company
    4.6
  • The Culture
    4.8

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I really enjoyed my placement. There was a good variety of interesting and challenging work that was relevant to both my degree and future career. The skills I learnt there are also very transferable and can be used both at uni and future jobs. The people at Aon were very friendly and helpful and this made setting in to the new role a lot easier.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • Even as an intern you are given the chance to do a variety of work that is important . This can range from accounting statements to pension calculations that can be quite tricky. People were very appreciative of the work that was produced and this was made apparent when they have good feedback at the end

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • All the time. I was assigned a "buddy" for my time there who was the main port of call for help. However everyone in the office was approachable, friendly and more than happy to answer questions. I also had frequent manager meetings to track my progress and receive any advice on how to improve. He was also more than happy to help me by giving hints and tips on how to do well during my time there.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Most of the time the amount of work I had was spot on. There was only a couple of occasions where I did not have any work to do, but emailing around the office to check if anybody had more for me to do meant that I was soon busy again.

    5/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • Worked on real client work that was important and he right level of responsibility for an intern.

    5/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • Helped with both my future career and university. The placement was an in the actuarial department so linked in closely with my degree (Actuarial Maths). I was also offered a position after university so the skills I gained will be used again in my Career when I rejoin Aon.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The office was small and therefore quite quiet. But all the staff there were friendly and very helpful. There were some social events whilst I was there which Aon paid for (wine and cheese) and a football match was also organised for everyone in the office to join in. The other intern was also close by so I could go and speak to him as well.

    5/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • The placement was very well organised. The first week consisted of training, both for soft skills and role specific skills. This week was a great chance to network with other interns who were there for the summer as well as ask questions to managers across the business. Following the training I was assigned a buddy who was my first port of call for help and also the person that assigned the majority of my work. My manager would also have meeting and it was clear from the offset what was expected of me. The end of the internship was also well structured. With a final assessment and feedback from colleagues deciding whether I would be suitable for a future role at the business.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • As mentioned previously, the firm provided training throughout the first week on both soft skills such as presenting (from which an external speaker came in) and team work?& building. The firm also provided some rope specific work in which and actuary from the Bristol Aon office explained the role of an pensions actuary and what sort of maths the role involved. Exercises were given to all interns so that we were well prepared for the job. If travel was ever required the firm was quick to reimburse me which was God as other firms have been slower in the past.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    National Travel

    Company Parties/Events

    Working from home

    Healthcare/Dental

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • It is clear from the get go that if you perform well during the summer internship you may be offered a graduate role for the following graduate intake. These places are available all across the country and you are most likely to be placed in ten office in which you carried out your internship. At the end of the placement I was offered a graduate position with a good competitive starting salary (particularly for a non London location), a range of benefits and a good actuarial study package.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • There was not a massive social life however there are very flexible working hours so if you want the flexibility to leave earlier and socialise after then you can. This is not to say there is nothing, football was organised and also there was a wine and cheese tasting evening paid for by the company. Another social for the whole department was also in the pipelines for shortly after I left (which I was invited to despite no longer working there!!)

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Leeds is a cheap city that I already knew well. There are lots of bars and pubs that are very good and the nightlife is great. Shopping in the city is also very good, with a new shopping centre having opened in the past couple of years and also another one about to open soon. There are plenty of other things to do in the city too, from walking if you go a bit further from the centre, to going to some of the country's oldest cinemas (Hyde park picture house or cottage road in headingley), to some shows at the theatre.

    5/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • Leeds nightlife of good! There is something on every night of the week, though if you are working you probably won't be going on my week nights out. However the weekend nightlife is also good and there are a range of cheap to expensive nights out - depending on what you want. There is a good selection of pubs that are open late too that do craft beers and ales (such as headrow house), and also pubs and bars that have some live music which is good.

    5/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Despite being part of the internship, the Responsibility project we were given was very flexible with what you did, so after hours you were free to get stuck in to fundraising in any way you saw fit. Also as previously mentioned there was a wine and cheese evening and football which was organised by staff at Aon and both were a good laugh. Since leaving I was also invited to "tock tock unlock" which was a nice gesture from the people at Aon and again, a good laugh.

    5/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

Yorkshire and Humberside

November 2015


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