Intern Review

I really enjoyed my time at Handelsbanken. The main part of the internship that made it so enjoyable was all of the people. Everyone was so friendly and willing to help if I ever had any questions. I was given plenty of work to be getting on with within the branch, as well as more structured projects all interns were given as part of the internship. This layout was perfect as I always had something to be getting on with.

I felt very valued during my internship, particularly towards the end as I was given more important work to do. I also believe that the branch project I was set to complete during my 8 weeks was beneficial to the branch and thus it felt like I had made a positive impact during the internship.

In Southampton branch where I was based, everybody was so lovely, and although they were busy they took so much time to show me around the different systems and to make sure I was happy with the work I was doing. Some of the members of staff would even invite me with them to networking lunches and events so that I could see more of what their role involves. I felt that everyone took time to make sure I was okay and I felt as though I could ask any questions I needed too.

I believe I was the perfect balance between always having work to do, yet also not feeling too stressed or over worked. There is a really good work life balance and Handelsbanken, but you are also set lots of important work so that you are never bored.

For the first few weeks of the internship, I spent most of my time becoming familiar with the different computer systems and doing smaller tasks to help understand the systems. However as the internship progressed I was given more and more responsibility with my tasks which was really rewarding.

Very helpful! I study economics at university and I found it so beneficial to see how lots of the theory I had learnt at university are put into practice. With the work I was doing I was able to see a lot of my accounting and finance theory in practice. However with the corporate finance managers it is clear to me how my economic theory comes into play as they try to find business solutions.

The atmosphere in the office was the perfect mix between friendly and everyone chatting, and everyone getting all their work complete. Everyone was so lovely and became your friend, yet it was also very professional as their was lots of work to be done!

Very well structured! Each intern was working at a different branch, where we were given branch specific work to be getting on with, which was rewarding as I felt this work was of value. However there was also more structured work to be completing as part of the internship program, with visits to Bristol head office for all of the interns, and a structured plan of what you should be learning and achieving each weeks.

It felt like the firm did put a lot of time into personal development, we had a CV boosting class, as well as having to give presentations our self. Which although scary, is very beneficial to be able to practice. In the branch I would say they do invest a lot of time into you, however they also have a lot of work to be getting on with.

Very appealing. I believe this internship is almost treated like an 8 week interview, where they then decide if they want to employ you afterwards, and also whether we want to work for them. Will are interviewed at the end of the 8 weeks, and we then hear whether we were successful or not in the autumn.

Unfortunately each intern is situated in a different branch and so the interaction between interns is minimal. There are two days in the regional head office which all of the interns attend, which were probably my favourite two days of the internship.

As there are so many different branches at Handelsbanken, it is very easy to live at home during your internship, making the cost of living minimal. Or alternatively if there was somewhere you particularly wanted to live over summer, Handelsbanken will more than likely have a branch there.

I was based in Southampton during my internship, which does have a very good nightlife.

Outside of work the opportunities are minimal as interns, however you can see on the HR portals lots of activities which employees are getting involved with, such as charity cycle rides and events.