Summer Analyst Review

The work was varied, challenging and had a significant and lasting impact on the business. I was given ownership and control of a large project, which lasted the whole 10 weeks and was pushed into production in the final week. Various speaker events were put on in the first weeks of the internship, which gave an opportunity to hear from leaders in the business.

Regular feedback was given so I was aware of my progress. Colleagues in my immediate team were friendly, welcoming and always keen to offer support and guidance. Ample opportunity was given to engage with the wider team, including bi-weekly meetings and presentations. Contact was nonetheless limited with teams in other offices.

Immediate manager, and members of the team, were always forthcoming when support or guidance was needed. Regular reviews with my manager gave clarity on what I needed to do to improve. The team moves quickly and has a high workload; hence sometimes colleagues were too busy to be able to offer support immediately.

I was never bored. There was always work to do, but the pressure to complete this was not unhealthy. The team is driven but works at a reasonable and manageable pace, with an emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Workload was at times significant, but this didn't affect working hours, which were very reasonable.

My work made significant changes to sensitive code. I was given a high level of autonomy in determining the changes needed to be made, and the execution of these changes. I was given responsibility for the push into production, and making further changes in response to errors. The level of responsibility of assumed was significant.

The experience of software engineering in a commercial environment is highly valuable, not just in my studies but for any future employment. The need to understand, assess and manage risk is a highly transferable skill. GS takes an interest in your professional development, organising events and ensuring exposure to management so you may further your connections & expand your network.

There is a constant buzz of activity. People are clearly very driven and bring dedication and passion to their jobs. A number of teams do stay extremely late - presenteeism is an (improving) problem in some divisions. The new offices in Plumtree Court are beautiful and a great working environment.

The internship programme is extremely well organised and structured. Training in the first few weeks is of a high standard and extremely useful. There were some oversights - for example, I lacked a number of system permissions, and acquiring these took around a week, during which time my effectiveness was limited. I was not allocated a seat in the new building, so had to hot-desk on the other side of the office from my team.

The firm invests heavily in personal development. Weekly meetings with MDs were organised (though these were occasionally cancelled at the last minute). The path to career progression is highlighted and emphasised. Events were put on for interns to network with senior players in all divisions. The first week of training was intense but worthwhile.

The New Analyst programme is clearly a good way to start one's career. There is opportunity for fast progression to a high level and assumption of more responsibilities. The pay is generous and increases rapidly. GS takes care of its employees, with an onsite medical team and a highly effective HR department. The prevalence of proprietary technology means technical skills are not always transferable to other companies.

Yes, although other interns' workload often meant that free time was at a real premium. GS organised some events for all interns; more impromptu events, e.g. pub trips, were organised almost weekly by interns. The building has ample social spaces for interns to socialise. The intern class is large, you are bound to find people you get on with.

Cost of living in London is extremely high. Nearby pubs and restaurants are very expensive. I chose to live outside London, the downside of which was an expensive and somewhat longer commute. GS provides an additional accommodation/relocation allowance, however this won't cover more than 3 or 4 weeks' rent. The salary is generous, however.

The nightlife in the City of London is fine but limited; more opportunities are available elsewhere in London, and are easily accessible from the office. London has a vibrant nightlife, with plenty of pubs, bars and clubs. Note however that the (financial) cost of a night out can be significant.

GS organised a small number of intern events; interns also organised outings among themselves. Trips to locations of intellectual interest were offered to interns in the Engineering division; these were interesting, fulfilling and helped with day-to-day work. A day was dedicated to volunteering with a charity, to invest in the local community.