Summer Intern Review

The environment at the headquarters is very open and welcoming. Overall I felt supported throughout the entire internship, and there was always somebody around that I could ask questions. Running my own projects gave me a good level of autonomy and I was able to work at my own pace while being challenged to the right level.

My team values my contributions and makes sure I always understand what is going on and that I feel included. I attended the department meetings from day 1 and have individual chats with my colleagues regularly. They often said that as an intern I can bring a fresh perspective on their work, so I definitely feel valued in my team.

My line manager made sure that I settled in well at the beginning of the internship. He provided me with all the equipment and introduced me to any other departments I may need to contact. The weekly 1-to-1 meetings with my manager were a great way to stay on track and make sure he is happy with my performance. I set personal goals for my development throughout the internship with my manager so that he could help me get what I wanted out of the internship.

At the beginning of the internship I was very busy on a daily basis as I was getting to know people, understanding internal processes and learning about my individual tasks. This slowed down after a few weeks as it was my responsibility to get on with my assigned projects, and I had to make sure that I wasn't getting distracted but staying focused on my goals.

I was given a higher level of responsibility than I expected. I was assigned 3 projects for the duration of the internship, and how I achieved the goals was my choice. This high level of autonomy ensured that I stayed motivated and focused. Being this independent taught me to prioritise tasks and decided my daily schedule for myself.

The skills I developed during the internship will greatly assist me in my degree and future career choices. Gaining an insight into a traditional business that has such a modern approach to working was incredibly valuable. Apart from time-management and formal communication skills, I have learned to be flexible and seek advice from all areas of a firm. During the internship I was encouraged to take part in self-development events and shadow other departments, so I learned a lot about how I work best and which sector I would like to work in in future.

My team was very lively and busy and I was included in all the joint events and meetings meaning that I was exposed to a variety of experiences. My office was very modern and supported agile working and flexible hours. All my colleagues were supportive which made it an extremely friendly atmosphere to work in.

The internship was very well organised and I had a meeting with my manager at the beginning to talk about the timeline, deadlines and specific goals. The 2-day induction event at the beginning of the internship ensured that all interns were clear about their roles and where they fit into the company. It would have been good to know the specific department we were placed in a little earlier though.

There were many regular events for long-term staff that interns had equal access to. All UK interns had a joint event on personal branding and working styles at the start of the internship, and the things I learned there will support me far beyond the internship. Other firm-wide events interns had access to include self-development training, getting to know other departments and meditation for example.

Most interns receive an offer for a Graduate role after completing the internship successfully. Rather than trying to catch out interns and test their knowledge, the company focused on our development and equipped us with all the skills and tools we needed to succeed. By being clear of what is expected of us, we were able to work to our best abilities.

The joint 2-day induction was great to meet other interns and start making friends in the company. We also had an Intern Fundraising Challenge for which we were placed into teams, which meant that we regularly met up and most teams met up for chats more often than required for the challenge.

Edinburgh is a very expensive city for the cost of living as rents are very high compared to other UK cities. It was easier for me as I am already based in Edinburgh. Socialising costs are average, with a wide variety of pubs, events and venues to meet up in and socialise.

The headquarters are further out of town so it was not easy to go for a drink after work, meaning that this had to be organised in advance. Nightlife in the city centre is relatively good though, with lots of pubs which are especially full during the summer months due to festivals in Edinburgh.

There were many events during working hours, but not many events organised by the company to socialise outside of work. However, my department did organise small meet-ups every now and then. The interns also had a separate group chat to organise meetings apart from the 3-4 socials organised by the Graduate Council.