Operations Summer Analyst Review

The work was interesting. I was able to work with a wide range of people doing different roles across different subdivisions/divisions. The people I was working with were welcoming and helpful. I got on well with my manager and the rest of the team. They were always willing to answer questions, give me feedback on my performance, and offer advice. The extra sessions run by HCM were informative and useful. We were given multiple opportunities to talk to and network with senior figures in the firm.

The members of my team were welcoming, and made it clear that the work I was doing was adding value to the role and was appreciated by them. I was encouraged not to take on "busy work" which other people may be tempted to give me, but which wasn't central to the role of our team. In working with people more generally, the work I did was met with sincere thanks and people who had appreciated things I had done for them passed this feedback back to my manager.

My manager was incredibly supportive, able to give me tasks which broadened my experience during the internship and challenged me to work on areas of development. There were two official reviews during the internship, in which my manager summarised the feedback she was given by other members of the team, as well as giving examples of comments that had been made. More generally, I was offered mentoring and more general career guidance and support in deciding if I would like to pursue a job with the company by a variety of different mentors, both within my immediate team, and in other areas within the division.

There were some times when I felt that I did not have enough useful work to be doing, and some where there was time pressure to deliver. In the former case, I had the opportunity to complete online training which broadened my knowledge of the firm and the industry, as well as to take on more personal projects and have catch ups with people outside of my immediate team. In the latter case, I was always supported in my work by my manager, and encouraged not to stay late to finish tasks which could be re-prioritised.

I was given responsibility for areas of work very early on, and given the opportunity to demonstrate my ability to take ownership of work and work well independently. In cases where I was unsure, I felt I was easily able to ask for a second opinion from my manager or other team members, and always felt that even though I was taking lead on a certain task, I always had the backing of the rest of the team. This gave me opportunities to liaise with stakeholders and to gain visibility that I might not have done otherwise.

Although my degree is not related, the experience of working has refined my communication, independent working, time management and prioritisation skills. It has also given me the opportunity to understand the reality of a working life, and to identify the areas which matter most to me when considering what career I would like to pursue in the future. It also gave me the opportunity to develop expertise in the systems and area I was working in.

Very friendly and welcoming - everyone was happy to make time for me, regardless of job title.

Very well run. Sessions were well planned and thought out. The arrival day logistics were well arranged. There were some kinks with setting up access to tech systems, which meant that a bit of time was spent on the phone to the tech desk during the first week as they tried to identify and solve the problems. My team were well prepared to meet me and give me tasks to do as soon as I arrived. They had put in time to walk me through the key roles performed by the team and to ensure that I understood the wider context of our work.

There were a number of in person training and information sessions through out the summer and we were given access to further online and conference call based sessions which we were able to sign up for independently. There weren't many skills workshops or structured opportunities to develop specific skills, but within my team I was given opportunities to develop a range of competencies.

If offered a job, I would accept.

Large class of interns meant that there were always plans to join. There were always people willing to go out for a drink or for a party and

Central London prices - so expensive. But the salary was in line with the cost of living.

Good pubs and clubs - but expensive!

Few opportunities through the firm, but it was possible for people who wished to.