This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 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
I had a thoroughly enjoyable experience with the FCA having completed the Spring Insight week prior to the internship, The internship scheme allowed us a great deal of exposure to more senior colleagues who were more than willing to make the time to sit and chat over a coffee. My time at the FCA this summer was further enhanced through some of the great relationships that I had managed to build with the other interns. Moreover, responsibility made up a huge part of why I had such a good time at the organisation, whereby my team trusted me with a variety of projects, tasks and contributions.
I have a huge amount of respect for all colleagues whom I was fortunate enough to cross paths with during my internship. As aforementioned, the interns were good fun and besides this, my team also reflected a very positive, bubbly culture. The accessibility and approachable nature of HR also made the internship very smooth. The flat organisational structure at the FCA is reflected in the respect that all colleagues have for each other, and their willingness to help.
My line manager was very easy to get on with and provided me with good feedback. I would say that more of the support that I was given was by less senior colleagues who I worked with/for on a more frequent basis.
Naturally, my workload fluctuated considerably day by day, according to deadlines and what work had been delegated my way. I feel that this is in line with the nature of the industry. However, with the on-going objective of many of us interns being to learn to more effectively manage our workloads, I feel that I may be suited to a more intense workload to keep me challenged.
This was the area that I found most impressive throughout my internship. Managers and colleagues treat you as they'd treat you as they would any other colleague and you 'intern' status soon dissipates. I was given a high level of responsibility, particularly concerning cases and sensitive information.
The internship has undeniable been invaluable to my future career and has enabled me to build upon a variety of highly transferrable, professional skills. My experiences here have also enabled me to develop an understanding of the more practical angle of my degree (Economics) and a greater comprehension of the industry.
The Company
Positive, fun and calm.
HR made a great job of organising the internship to make it a structured process. The workload wasn't too structured which was good, allowing me to be given flexible and meaningful tasks.
I was given access to numerous programmes and seminars, besides the mandatory e-learning modules. The firm have evident structures in place to invest in their staff members with a cultural focus on personal development.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Company Car
Subsidised/Company Gym
National Travel
International Travel
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
Staff Sales/Staff Shop
Above 25 days holiday
Working from home
Healthcare from home
Healthcare/Dental
Travel loan
Very appealing - a good work/life balance, good pay and a great team of very approachable and friendly staff.
The Culture
From my experience, the interns clicked very well. Naturally, some more so than others, however we frequently arranged to meet for drinks after work or lunch during the day.
Canary Wharf is understandably expensive, likewise with the rest of London, though we soon managed to source out where the local Wetherspoons was, amongst other happy hours and lunch offers. Living in London was very expensive.
Good though youngsters would tend to venture further into the city to stay out later.
The FCA had an internal social and events club which arranged activities such as Thames River Cruises (inc BBQ and drinks), as well as a variety of other events and sports clubs. These were offered at highly subsidised/reduced prices. However, I would have liked to have seen more centrally-ran social events for the interns which appear to be more frequent at other firms.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
London
August 2017