Seven Week First Year Summer Internship Review

I had a really enjoyable placement in Head Office. It was my third placement in the bank, so I was able to catch up with all my old contacts, and the interns I had met before. My line manager was young and had been on an HSBC graduate programme herself, and I was her only direct report, so she took special care to manage me and ensure I was given valuable and appropriate tasks.

I felt very valued by my colleagues. My line manager went our of her way to ensure I was enjoying my placement and that I getting the support I needed with my tasks. She was very concerned that I wasn't used as a team secretary, although I was perfectly happy to help out with any tasks that she needed doing.

I had regular one to ones with my manager, with formal meetings each week, but I always felt I could ask her whenever I needed guidance. She also set up meetings with each member of the team, so I could understand the work that was being done. I met with the head of my team every couple of weeks, and also with the internship coordinator so I had plenty of opportunity to reach out when I needed.

The nature of the work I was doing meant that urgency wasn't as much of a priority as I am used to. I thrive better under pressure, so sometimes felt that without this I wasn't doing as much as I possibly could. My working hours were 8.30 - 5.30, so I had plenty of time to take advantage of the social aspect of the internship.

I was given responsibility of my own work within the team. I had my work checked by senior members of the team; I was pleased to have this support and guidance. In my second week I was trusted to present to the new graduate recruits within a larger presentation by another member of my team. This was challenging, but allowed me to take ownership of one section of the presentation and adapt it to my own style.

I improved my presentation skills and my confidence within the working world. I was given a lot of career development training by a member of team, which was hugely helpful, and will certainly assist me in the future.

The atmosphere in my office was really lovely - as an example the Interns ran a charity raffle and I was able to raise the £100 personal target within twenty minutes around my office! There was a relaxed atmosphere and I could approach anyone for help when needed.

I think the internship could have been better organized - there were over 70 interns, but as we were scattered all over the UK with only one day to meet each other at the beginning of the programme which was largely made up of presentations (so not much time to network). As I had done an internship before (and as part of a smaller group) I felt integrated into the business but I'm not sure if I had been on my first internship I would have done. Some of the most useful parts of the placement, for example spending a half day in a Corporate Centre, I organised myself through my own personal network.

We had to do a huge amount of online training, which was in parts not particularly relevant, as it was geared towards new joiners, not interns who were only part of the bank for a few weeks. These activities took several crucial hours in the first week where the time would have been better spent getting involved with the team. The training and development I recieved within my department from my colleagues was very useful, but was due to their personal interest in me rather than part of the programme, and was not available to all the interns.

I would be keen to join a Graduate programme with the bank as the internship has given me an opportunity to experience the departments I would be interested in working in and provided me with the network and contacts to access these opportunities.

There was a good social scene, especially within the interns I had met before. The charity project we took on provided an opportunity to socialise with the other interns and get to know some of the people working outside London.

London was expensive, but we were given territorial allowance to account for this.

The opportunity to go out in London was great, and provided some great nights out!

Within such a short period of time it was difficult to get involved, but the opportunities were available and advertised on the intranet.