Research Assistant Review

by Bank of England

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

Rating

3.4/5
  • The Role
    3.3
  • The Company
    4.1
  • The Culture
    2.6

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • It was great - a really cool organisation to work for with lots of intelligent people and opportunities to learn. I have had opportunities to get involved in a variety of projects across the bank and have been involved in some publications and speeches which have been seen by the public. I’ve learnt a lot both technically and soft skills such as collaboration.

    5/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • 3/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • 3/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • There is always something to do. While the general work load has large peaks and troughs – during the run up to publications you get paid overtime and rewarded discretionary leave for working lots which makes up for the stress. In the lulls there is often the opportunity to do more interesting work and people are happy to discuss projects.

    4/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • I feel like there was a good amount of responsibility. At first I was terrified by how much I was trusted but I think it is natural to view ones role as more important than it actually is and when I got used to it was given more and am happy to be so trusted.

    4/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • 3/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • Generally the atmosphere is quite. The people I work with are all fairly young but people also have a lot of work to get on with so usually work with headphones on. In quiet periods it gets more chatty and friendy and people are always willing to go for a coffee if you do want to discuss something.

    2/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • Very well organised. There is a large placement cohort and it has been running for many years and this is clear from the structure and order of it. While they are still changing and adapting things to improve (so they trailed some things with us) there is also a clear place for placement students in the organisation and an understanding of their backgrounds.

    4/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • A lot. If I could fit in all my work I was allowed to go to as many training sessions or seminars as I wanted to. People were really keen to pass on their knowledge to me and to help me understand difficult concepts and I’ve learnt a lot as a result.

    5/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • Flexi Time

    Subsidised Canteen

    Sports and Social Club

    Financial Bonus

    Working from home
    5/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • I am very keen to return to the bank. The analyst roles offered on the graduate scheme look very interesting and I could definitely build on the knowledge and skills I’ve developed so far. The team brainstorms highlight the best of the bank where people from all backgrounds contribute a range of diverse and interesting ideas.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • 3/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • London prices! Not that unexpected and the wages make up for it (and the generous colleagues) but socialising in London is very expensive. Pints are often over a fiver and a double can take you over £10 sometimes. I lived at home but I know some people got decent deals on flatshares slightly further out.

    2/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • 3/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • Yes although I didn’t take any of them. The most popular from my perspective seemed to be the football team and choir but there were many more with a sports centre at Roehampton there are many opportunities to get involved in sports. Also while I was there a book club started and there are many networks for women or BEEM for example

    4/5
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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

London

May 2017

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