Transformation Review

I really enjoyed the internship because it was the first time I worked in a proper office environment. The team was also great and very jolly so I never felt bored. The work that was given to me also helped me develop a lot of skills that will be useful for my future career.

The team was extremely jolly and fun to work with. They were always talking to each other to ensure that the environment doesn't feel quiet. A few colleagues also shared the same interest as me which meant that we got on really well. They always gave me great feedback and valued my work.

I was given a lot of guidance by my line manager. He was very down to earth and focused on personal development as well work. I was given a chance to explore a variety of divisions during my internship. The team also provided useful feedback and advice when I asked.

The work and life balance was really good during my internship. Initially, I did not have a lot of work-load because I was settling in. Later on, the work-load increased a bit but it was still very balanced. I have rarely had to stay back late to finish work during the internship.

Initially, as I was settling in, I was not given a huge amount of responsibility. However, at a later stage of the internship, I was given more responsibility and was asked to take over important projects. I was also given the opportunity to work on different projects and present back to senior managers from various teams.

I developed a wide range of skills which will be useful for life. Not only did I develop work skills but also interpersonal skills that can even be applied to university projects or sports. I also gained a wide range of commercial knowledge through networking with people. Overall, it was very beneficial.

It was always a great atmosphere at all of the offices that I visited. Some offices were busier than others. Offices also contain leisure activities such as table tennis or mini-golf which makes you feel relaxed. The team was also great and did not make me feel nervous at any time of the internship.

I was very impressed with what I gained out of the internship. The overall internship was pretty well planned however, it would have been better to know the role details before starting. It takes time to learn about how the bank functions. However, the same applies to an internship at any place.

As you are only an intern, you are not given a huge range of opportunities for personal development. However, graduates get a lot of opportunities. Nevertheless, interns are given access to a wide range of online courses and training websites that allow them to develop a lot of skills. These are available for free at any time.

As the firm is restructuring this year, interns were not given a job instantly. This was the case in previous years. However, we were given a chance to apply for another role. The HR team then assessed feedback from line managers and selected certain interns for an interview. Upon passing this interview, we could get a graduate job with them after graduating.

Interns were all placed in the same halls. They were given free accommodation in the city that they were based in. This meant that we could socialize with all of the interns daily. My team also organized a lot of social events such as dinner or bowling during the evenings.

As I was based in London, the cost is high compared to other cities. In fact, London is probably the most expensive place. However, this did not prevent people from socializing. It just meant that we had to spend a bit more money than usual. However, London interns were given a higher pay.

I did not really explore the nightlife. However, the location is London so I am assuming the nightlife will be awesome. There are many areas in London which can be easily accessed via tube or bus. It is also the home for many University students which you may meet during nightlife.

I was provided with a lot of opportunities to get involved in other activities outside of work. All interns participated in a charity challenge to fundraise and raise awareness for a certain charity. This allowed us to do a lot of activities outside of work and work with other interns as a group.