This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
My placement was really enjoyable. The people were all great although you have to be prepared to work all hours and be super flexible. Work can be quite dull but it gives you a great basis in finance. I enjoyed the international travel I experienced however some travel can be inconvenient and not to the best places.
I felt very valued by my colleagues, they always gave me praise and I felt a part of the team from the stary. Management are very supportive, with all levels happy to help. Work is completed in teams which gives a great atmosphere. Feedback is regular and is always constructive.
The support here is great. Each individual is given a career coach who only aims to find the best option for you and not the firm. The coaching from seniors is great, this is all on the job coaching and so is very relevant and makes things a lot easier to pick up.
It would completely depend. Some days would be crazy and would be working until midnight, other times there would be no work at all. It is all dependant on the client and the time of year. I would say I had a few weeks of no work, a few weeks of crazy hours and mostly 9am-7pm.
I was given equal responsibility to the graduate students and on one job was basically in charge of an entity. The responsibility you get all depends on how much you want and can handle. It is completely subjective and you can always ask for a challenge if you want to try it or additional help if you are struggling.
I achieved the first year of the ACA which will massively help with my finance and accounting modules. My excel skills have improved and my general confidence is so much greater. You are treated as a key member of the team straight away and regularly have to communicate with the client so will massively improve your communication skills.
The Company
The atmosphere in the office is great. You can choose where you sit as it is hot desking so there are lots of options. You can sit in quiet areas, sit with your friends and there are large collaborative spaces so you can sit as a team and all work together.
The start was all very organised as we took the same pathway as the grad schemes. Towards the end of the placement there was some miscommunication regarding future steps as it wasn't made clear who to contact so many chaser emails had to be sent. As it is such a large company it can be difficult to speak to HR.
The investment during the placement is huge, the company pay for the first year of the ACA which means lots of days are spent in college and studying. You will also receive several training weeks and constant on the job training so are always very well prepared for the work you have to undertake.
International Travel
Company Parties/Events
The conditions of a job offer are that you pass all of the exams at least second time and receive good job feedback. It is a relatively straight forward process and will be communicated to you by your career coach and HR. They also offer other options to transfer to other departments.
The Culture
The placement students and grads all complete training and college together so it is relatively easy to make friends with each other. Within the firm they have several events for the associated and also regular social events within firm social groups in order for you to meet and mingle with more senior staff.
London is very expensive. From rent and utilities to just general socialising. There are lots of apps and cheap options which can be utilised but the 'drinks after work' culture and pret for lunch can soon add up. Make sure you realise this from the start and plan a sustainable year.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
July 2019