Graduate Trainee (Retirement) Review
by Mercer
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
3.3
-
The Company
3.0
-
The Culture
3.4
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
It was good, althought at times a bit too monotonous for my liking.
Sometimes really so, like when you unassisted manage to solve a problem. Sometimes, more like an annoyance, when you were given tasks that no-one seemed that interested in.
Never had any problems getting help when I needed it.
A few too many periods where there was litterally nothing to do. I finished my intern project within 4 weeks for example. Rarely overcrowded with work, although there were times when you had to meet a deadline and deliver something.
As the most junior person in the office, there isn't that much responsability you can be given, as your knowledge is limited, and everything needs to be checked by 2 other people regardless. There were def room for my input and I was def listened to, so I don't have anything to complain on!
Def. acquied transferable skills - numeracy, problem solving, being persistent(when facing a difficult problem), patience, working with different people (for the group project you're assigned in groups with people at other offices, which brings in another dimension to the task) etc..
The Company
Quit quiet a lot of the time, but most of my colleagues were really friendly, everyone was always helpful
Introduction is generally quite well set up, but after that it's learning on the job, and seeing as it's a big organisation that is used to training new people, there is generally no problems. I would have wished for some better co-ordination and general plan of what us interns were actually to do. We were for example set up on a few long term projects that our team leaders were unaware of.
See above. Organised training spread out mainly over the first week, and then trained by colleagues in the office.
Subsidised Canteen
Company Parties/Events
Absolutely nothing against Mercer, actuarial science just isn't for me I've learned.
The Culture
Within my floor we had a really good group of people who became quite good friends. Not that much partay partay though.
It's London...
It's London!
Yes, both organised via the office and completely external. Again, it's London!
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
Actuary, Business Operations
London
August 2011
