Summer Employee Review

This internship has been one of my best to date! I was fortunate enough to be allocated to a team that have been extremely welcoming and ready to accommodate my every need. I got a real sense of the firm’s culture. There wasn’t a single person who was inaccessible and you are encouraged to message people regularly to shadow them or have ‘catch ups’ with them. It was really fun networking with other interns too.

I felt very valued by my colleagues because they intentionally gave me daily tasks that were beneficial for the team and would have a lasting impact. I had regular check-ins with my managers and different members of my team to see my progress and any areas where I require more support. I was also supported by colleagues who I did not work with on a day to day basis, but who I had met through different networks.

The support I was given by the overall management was immense. My direct manager was very supportive as he would schedule in regular meetings with me to find out my progress and if there were any areas that he could support me even more. The HR team was also very good at providing me with support at time when I felt unsure of what to do. Overall, interns are provided with a lot of support and guidance. If ever you feel like you need more support and/or guidance the atmosphere is very friendly to the extent that you feel comfortable to ask for it.

I would say I was moderately busy. I was assigned with a project to work on from the beginning of the internship which meant that each day, it was up to me to create a timetable of what to do and how I want to do it. Therefore, my ‘busyness’ was dependent on how I structured myself. In addition to my project work, there were loads of training sessions organised by HR and also shadowing opportunities that I arranged myself. These additional sessions are what made my day busier than they ought to be. The key is to be organised and prioritise your daily tasks.

In terms of responsibility I was given a lot of autonomy over the structure of my day as opposed to responsibility over a specific task. I was given responsibility to ensure that I completed the project to a high standard on my own accord. The level and type of responsibility that I was given was not overwhelming; neither did I feel like I had zero responsibilities. I feel as though the balance was very well matched.

The skills that I have developed range from soft skills so a deep level of technical skills and knowledge. I believe that these skills will benefit me when entering the working world. The project that I was tasked with, I had to use a lot of analytical skills to extra the data and find a suitable way to present that data, highlighting the key points. This skill is something that I will continue to develop beyond this internship. The training I received will also assist me beyond my studies as I am know aware of how to efficiently extract information that will be beneficial for any work that I take on.

The general atmosphere of the office was a direct representation of the culture of the firm. The atmosphere is very friendly. It is very much an enjoyable atmosphere to be in as you are surrounded by normal people who enjoy they work and just want to get it done. It is not silent, neither is it loud. It is a perfect balance between mid-tone conversations, meaning that you feel free to communicate with those around you.

The overall internship was very well organised. When I first joined, the first two weeks was more or less spent away from my desk as I was participating in training sessions. This was intense, but also enjoyable as it’s a chance to familiarise yourself with the wider intern class. Throughout the internship, there were a few more insight sessions that were more specific to the team you are in, which was also well though through.

In terms of training and development, I believe this firm really invests in their interns. We had insight session with various different teams within our divisions so that we could have a better understanding of how division as a whole operates. You are also assigned with a buddy and a mentor when you join the firms to act as both informal and formal mentors during the programme.

Future employment prospects are very appealing with this organisation. They place a heavy emphasises on the physical and mental well-being of their employees. They have recently constructed a brand new building which incorporates things that a ‘meditation room’ for people who just need a mental break from work. Also, this firm operates on a meritocratic basis which is a firm that’d id definitely like to work in.

There was a good social scene amongst the interns in my cohort. There were groups created where would discuss and social events that we would like to attend after work. The only thing that would be much better is if the social scenes were organised for people from different divisions too so that we could all get to know each other much better

I am fortunate to have a family home in London; therefore I did not experience having to manage the living cost with my social experience. Though, London is generally a very expensive place to live and to socialise in. nevertheless, this internship was very well paid which meant that I was personally able to enjoy the social aspect of London without being inconvenienced financially.

The nightlife in the area I worked was very good. The office is directly opposite a few bars that we would go to after a long day at work. Working in London means that you’re never too far away from anything. There are definitely a lot of things to do in the area, especially a lot of lovely restaurants!

There were many opportunities to get involved with after work events. I signed up to a few different networks and I had the opportunity to attend different events. There was a Pub Quiz that was specific to the team I was in and it was a 90’s theme. There were also other social events that I know other interns participated in. After work drinks on a Friday was also a regular occasion, nut it was very fun as it gave us the opportunity to know our teams in a more relaxed and informal setting.