Internship Review

My internship at Handelsbanken was a great experience I honestly could not recommend it enough, it has enabled me to develop a strong array of skills in a work environment. It also allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge I had learnt through my degree to a relevant job role in the sector. Handelsbanken provides a great opportunity to experience the UK banking industry and I would thoroughly recommend the experience to any one.

From day one I was treated as a member of staff. I was continually encouraged to give my opinions and thoughts on tasks, activities and situations which arose during the course of my internship. I was also encouraged to ask questions where possible and this facilitated my learning as I was able to understand why. Throughout my time at Handelsbanken I have truly felt valued as an individual.

Throughout my internship I had regular contact and meetings with my Line Manager to discuss how I was finding my experience and how well I was progressing/developing in the bank. My Line Manager supported me in gaining experience in a variety of other roles within the branch to allow me an insight in to what each role consisted of, this has helped me greatly in understanding which path I would like to take in the future.

Each day was busy, but consisted of different tasks, meaning no two days were ever the same. The busy nature of the branch meant that I was able to learn a vast amount and develop a range of experience across a variety of different tasks. Despite the busy nature of the branch colleagues were always available to offer help and answer questions relating to the course of work I was undertaking.

From day one of my internship I was treated like any other member of staff, I had access to all the necessary software and programmes and this was all arranged before my arrival, this highlights the amount of responsibility I had during my internship. The fact that I was not restricted therefore meant I able to get the most out of my internship with the bank.

The skills learnt over the course of my two internships with Handelsbanken have been invaluable. I was able to utilise examples from my experience at Handelsbanken in my degree and this enabled me to further understand topics and relate this to the practical environment of a bank. My internships at Handelsbanken have provided me with a great head start in my full time role at the bank.

the atmosphere in the office was supportive not just for me as an intern but also to together in different roles asking for advice and previous experience on situations. This allowed me to witness and become involved in a range of conversations surrounding unusual or complex matters, which enabled me to understand the different roles in the bank and increase my overall knowledge. The atmosphere in the branch allowed me to get the most out of my time at the bank and the level of support provided to me was second to none.

The internship was highly organised and structured. On arrival at branch all necessary office equipment and supplies was waiting for me and I had already been granted access to all the necessary systems. This enabled me to feel like a member of staff from the outset and also highlighted the level of trust and what was to be expected from me from the outset.

At the start of the internship a 3 day induction takes place at head office which provided an understanding of the importance of the Handelsbanken culture, how they are different, the role, the systems and the importance of the customer/client. The training provided in these three days was critical and meant that upon arriving at the branch a prior understanding of what was expected was already provided, this aided the process of settling in. Once at the branch interns have to undertake a selection of training modules in line with that of all new employees at the bank.

The two internships I undertook lead to me receiving a full time role at the bank. The bank provides a great opportunity to develop and grow both professionally and as an individual. Upon gaining my full time role, I have chosen where I would like to be in the future and with the support of my Line Manager I am beginning to tailor my experiences in my current role to allow me to make this progression in the future. The bank is fully supportive of progression and development with a multitude of roles available.