BP Shadow Day Review

It was a very enjoyable experience because it was very interactive. The intern that I shadowed made a great effort to ensure that I networked with people from different divisions within BP, which gave me a good insight to each area, thus allowing me to select where my interests lie most.

Each member of the company that I spoke to, regardless of their seniority within BP, made an effort to get to know me and ask my opinions on what they were doing. For example, when in a meeting regarding a specific natural resource that is becoming more and more useful, I was asked to share my thoughts on its potential uses as well as providing some pros and cons.

The level of support was great, despite the experience only lasting one day. During the one to one sessions, I learned about each division, including Analytics and Strategy, whilst also asking some questions that I had. In addition, I was able to get some business cards and communicate with the people that I spoke to on the day.

The meeting I sat in on demonstrated the relevant procedures necessary when presenting, such as briefly introducing your main points and finishing with a strong close, as this ensures that the audience take something memorable from your presentation. Also, the day was extremely useful in terms of providing more information on the application process for other programmes at BP.

The structure of the Shadow Day significantly exceeded my expectations. As well as shadowing the intern I was matched with, I also got the opportunity to network with other members of the firm, other interns and a work experience student. This gave me a chance to find out more about BP from a wide range of perspectives.

The atmosphere was quite different to one you would expect on a trading floor. The number of screens could be perceived as quite intimidating, however it was relatively calm. The people were very friendly and were very happy to answer any questions I had. Also, the atmosphere was very positive and focused, which I really liked about BP.

The Shadow Day helped with this element because I was involved in a meeting with some senior staff regarding current issues affecting the firm. I was also able to inquire about what a typical day on the job of each role involves, which gave me a rough idea of working hours and the specific tasks aligned with specific roles.

The experience certainly helped me understand more about the company culture, especially due to the number of people I spoke to. They were able to outline the focus on people within the firm as well as detail the differences in BP compared to other firms they had previously worked at or with.

Before the Shadow Day, I was set on pursuing a particular career path. However, going into the day with an open mind was the best possible outcome for me, as I was introduced to new paths that I would never had known about or considered previously. Therefore, the day has helped introduce me to a wider variety of career paths.

Because of the great structure of the day, I was able to take part in some shadowing as well as meet a lot of staff within BP and take part in other activities. There were ample opportunities to network, such as during lunch when some other interns were eating, or during the one to one sessions I had with specific employees.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend as it was both informative and exciting to be with BP for the day. There were plenty of opportunities and activities provided during the day, which I took full advantage of. Also, the possibility to network and learn more via this source after the insight has finished is invaluable.