Internal Audit intern Review

Really enjoyed the internship. The social atmosphere at Gogaburn was one of the highlights of the 10 weeks. I received a variety of tasks to complete including a charity project, a group presentation project and pieces of work given by my line manager. Lots of opportunities to get involved in wider bank activities and find out about life at RBS.

Felt extremely valued by my colleagues. Was given a good level of responsibility and was left independently to complete the tasks but could always seek feedback and any team members were happy to help. All the team and wider staff were extremely friendly and we often had lunch as a team. They made me feel extremely welcome.

Was given as much support as required by my line manager and day-to-day supervisor. After an outline of the programme during week 1, they ensured that they were available to discuss any queries I had. I received regular feedback on submitted work and also had weekly on-to-one catch ups with my manager to discuss the previous week and any notable challenges/highlights.

During the first couple of weeks, my schedule was not particularly full as projects had not taken off yet. But this was a perfect opportunity to get involved with wider bank activities and network. My manager encouraged this and this allowed me to get a real feel of the RBS culture. After the first couple of weeks, my days got significantly busier and it did reach a really good balance. My day was also varied, making progress on a number of projects each day.

I was given a good level of responsibility during the 10 weeks. I was given numerous tasks to complete independently and these tasks were then submitted for review. Feedback was really useful and team members took significant time out of their day to help me in any way they could. We were also given a group project brief and were then responsible for producing the final outcome.

The transferable skills I received will assist me in numerous ways, particularly for university. These skills include presenting, networking, collaborating on group projects and improved communication and researching skills. The internship has provided a great insight into the RBS and the skills needed to be successful in a vibrant, busy work environment. The skills and knowledge I've developed will also help significantly for future interview preparation.

The office was a great environment and I enjoyed the social aspect of sitting with my team each day and also hot-desking so as to meet new people. It was friendly and team members would be more than willing to help out. Having said this, it was a focused office and it was important to get on with your work and not disturb others around you.

The internship ran smoothly with key deadlines for projects marked out from the beginning. The offer and hiring process at the end of the internship was also made clear during the first couple of introduction days. The first few days were a great start to the internship as we met up with RBS interns from across the UK.

The company invested in me through the managerial support I was given. This allowed me to build me knowledge of the function and seek assistance when working on complex tasks. There was also numerous events I could attend including insights into technology, innovation etc. I was also given plenty of feedback which aided my personal development.

RBS is a great place to work and the atmosphere at Gogarburn is unlike any other organisation I have experienced. There are lots of perks and the work/life balance and focus on wellbeing is hugely appealing. The grad scheme is hugely appealing and they invest a lot into personal training.

There was a really good social scene. During my internship, there were about 70 interns based in Edinburgh and the graduate councils but on several events throughout the internship including a welcome bbq and a scavenger hunt. The charity project also allowed everyone to get to know other interns outside of their function area.

Edinburgh accommodation is not cheap, especially during the fringe. In comparison to London, I found the living costs manageable. There is also plenty of student accommodation to rent which is a great, easy option as all of the bills and Wi-Fi are provided. Socialising is significantly cheaper than London and there are lots of free fringe events to take advantage of.

Gogarburn is slightly outside of the centre of Edinburgh however central Edinburgh has a really good atmosphere and there is plenty of nightlife and variety of events to attend in the evening. The city has a great atmosphere during the Fringe and there are events on every night to attend.

The graduate council put on numerous social events after work that you could attend and they were solely for interns. This was a great way to socialise outside of the office and also network with graduates. There was also a 5-aside football and touch rugby league interns could get involved with.