Operations Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Barclays. My team and manager made my experience amazing. They guided my through processes and ensured I was a part of the team. This internship has helped me develop invaluable skills. Everyone I spoke to in the building was friendly and very approachable, making communication very easy throughout the whole internship. This made me feel like a valuable member of my team.

My team members and manager always made me feel valued during my time here. If I had any questions to ask, they was very approachable and ensured I had important work to complete, guiding me through processes if I needed the help. One of my team members took annual leave and trusted me to complete his work for the week. Anything I struggled with the team would always help me, they made me feel at home.

I was always given support by my team. One of my colleagues helped me on a daily basis and spent time with me giving me tasks ensuring I had work to do. Our laptops was delayed by a couple of weeks, and during this team, my colleagues always guided me and gave me practical's to do on their computers ensuring I was gaining experience here.

During the internship, I always had projects to complete and activities to do. I spoke to my team about my course at my university, and they handed me tasks related to my course that would excel my knowledge, which was very useful. I had speaking sessions and training days to attend ensuring there was always something to do. This was all at a nice pace and nothing was rushed. The team acknowledged I'm here for experience and to give a hand, and they always gave me tasks that would be useful to me.

I was given a good amount of responsibility, I was given access to any document I needed and given freedom to schedule my own meetings, whether this was with directors or other interns to complete tasks. Although I did not have access to all the tools my team did, everything I needed was sent across to me. From the first day at my desk, they gave me responsibility to take part in meetings and activities from the very start. I had tasks to complete for other colleagues for the duration of the internship giving me a lot of responsibility.

The internship helped me develop invaluable self skills, such as communication and confidence. They also gave me new skills that I could use within my degree and take into my next job after university. Management skills was a key ability I wanted to develop over my time here, and by meeting directors and shadowing my manager, I was able to gain these skills successfully.

The atmosphere was amazing, everyone I met during my time here was very friendly, kind and approachable. This made me enjoy my time here and each day I would always look forward to going to the office. If I am given a chance for the graduate scheme here, I would most certainly take the opportunity and come back as before coming here, I thought the environment would be strict; however it is very relaxed and everything is completed at a good pace.

The organisation was very poor, especially during the start of my internship. On the very first day, we was told our laptops would not be ready for collection and nor our passes into the building. I received my laptop on the Friday of the 3rd week here (although it was ready for collection the Friday before, however I was on holiday during that period). My team at the very start did not have a full on plan for me as I did not have my laptop. On the other side, shadowing each member of my team for the first couple weeks was very insightful.

They invested everything in terms of me. Directors made themselves available for me if I wished to schedule a meeting to develop my own skills. Training sessions and speaking sessions were scheduled during my time here. The team helped me with my development with tasks and always was free to invest their time in me.

At the end of my internship, I may be offered a graduate scheme within the organisation to come back after my university degree. If I am offered the position, it will be very appealing as the environment of the business is very friendly and welcoming. My time here has been utilised and I would love to come back.

Yes, among colleagues whenever they scheduled to go out for a meal or anything else I would always be invited along and pushed to go with them. Among my fellow students, we did meet up on our own basis. However, before the start of the internship, I would've liked to see Barclay's organise social events to meet our fellow interns.

As the office is based in Manchester, socialising in the areas nearby was not the cheapest, but going out was always worth it and fellow colleagues would pay for my drinks. I really enjoyed working with my team so the experience was good.

I went out on one or two social events with my team, and as I have been out in Manchester before, the nightlife is good.

Outside of work, there were a few opportunities. One event that was outside my day to day role was the Micro Tyco challenge I do believe there were a lot more activities actually outside of work however these did not come to my attention during my time here.