Technology Summer Intern Review

by NatWest Group

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.4/5
  • The Role
    2.8
  • The Company
    3.4
  • The Culture
    4.3

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I never dreaded coming to work. I enjoyed the time I spent at RBS and looked forward to coming in and working with the team. The people I worked with, both other interns and the team I was placed, were always friendly and welcoming. I am having a happy summer.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I was never treated like an ''intern'' who had to collect coffee and photocopying etc. Some people within my team valued my work and opinion more than others but that is the norm when working in such a large organisation. My team mates regularly gave me praise and confidence in my work.

    3/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I found it hard to get support from my line manager as they were not in the country for the majority of my internship. It is harder to engage with someone who is only accessible through skype/zoom. I was given a secondary 'buddy' in the team however they were usually too busy for much support.

    2/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • The first few weeks were a bit slow but once team had more confidence in my ability then I was given more work. Some days I had to stay behind to finish off work but I was happy to if the work was actually benefiting the team. It is fine if time is managed properly.

    5/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given pieces of work that were required by the team for real situations so that was pleasing. There were project pieces that I was most motivated by. I was never given too much responsibility and was never overly stressed about the work / responsibilities. I perhaps would have liked more.

    2/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The skills I have developed are probably not very relevant for my degree subject and will not affect my final year project significantly. However the skills are suitable to working life and I've learnt a lot about the corporate environment. The most important skills learn were just basic knowledge such as how to work in a commercial team, to contribute to meetings and to communicate effectively.

    3/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • My office is a very open environment with many teams within the open plan space. There is always chatter within the team and it is not at all isolating. Most days people are pretty busy and just get their head down but in the evening or late friday we would sometimes just chat about non-work things.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • Before I was physically here the internship felt very organised and clear. The external onboarding is an easy process as were the induction days. However, as soon as I was in the office there was nothing prepared for me which lead to me not being 'online' and with no access for 12 days. There days were quite useless.

    1/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • The firm is very interested in developing you as a person. There are many chances to learn new skills, join development sessions and listen to speakers. They have a system in place to rate your personal skills allowing you to target your weaknesses and develop appropriately. There is a department dedicated to interns/graduates and their needs.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    Sports and Social Club

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    Company Parties/Events

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    Working from home

    Healthcare/Dental

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I am interested to look into a future with the company as it is such a good place to work and a company who treat their employees well. The graduate programme is appealing as you get to move around the company on placements to try out different teams. The pay is good and the benefits are numerous.

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Yes, we are quite a tight knit group of interns who socialise both at lunch and after work. There is nearly a plan everyday whether it is out and about in the city or just chilling together. Everyone is from all across the UK and further a field so everyone is in the same boat with knowing no-one.

    5/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Edinburgh is very reasonable and there is a mixture of higher end restaurants/bars and cheaper student places. Depending on location you can find accommodation cheaply if you apply early. The festival in August hikes a few prices up so beware of that. The uni means there lots of studenty places around.

    3/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • The office I am in is out of town however, it is a short ride away from town which is where nearly everyone works. As I said there are lots of students usually so there are quite a few clubs and bars that are not extortionate. The festival is a fab night out also.

    5/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Yes there were around 3 organised social events from graduates. There are also social sports teams. The interns organised many events themselves both drinking and non-drinking events. We were always keen to have something to do after work to relax and forget about work in the evenings/ weekends.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

Business Operations, Banking

Scotland

July 2019


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