Summer Analyst Review

My placement was fun but also very demanding. Took some time to adjust to lifestyle but after these past six weeks I am now enjoying.

From the very first day I felt welcome and very included in the team. Even the task I was assigned was very important so I felt even more valued by the team.

Admittedly I was shy at first but once I got asking questions, help was always at hand and my manager and other colleagues frequently checked up with me to see if their assistance would be needed.

My workload varied as it was very intense at the start then slowly eased off -this was due to my work being very reliant on correspondence from external parties so if they weren't getting back to me, my workload wasn't that much. However in my free time I had a lot of things to preoccupy myself with. From e-learning to team challenges so I was always very busy and I like being busy so this was good.

My area ws fairly complex so there was not much work I could actually do due to the fact I had not fully grasped the understanding however I was trusted to independantly contact people outside the organisaton. If I had more experience I would have undoubtedly been given more responsibility.

I have actually learnt so much, much more than I could imagine. This experience has prepared me so well for my degree especially because of the access to e-learning I had. It has prepared me not only academically but professionally as I have learned how to conduct myself in a business environment and it's also improved my time-management, teamwork and IT skills.

I was priveleged to be placed in a very coveted area of the bank so it was very lively with very sociable people -couldn't have been placed in a better area.

It was organised fairly well. They had prepared what my task was before I got there and the training was scheduled in intermmitently.

We were giving challenges to work us developing our teamwork skills and as said before access to e-learning which I can't stress how helpful this was. We also had a one-day jam-packed induction before getting into our roles.

I know that if I work hard, get a 2:1 or above in uni, leave a good impression I may have a chance despite the fierce competition.

We were all very busy with long working hours ut we did get an occasional Friday drinks after work which was nice but there has been plans for a bigger night out with all the interns to celebrate our time here. All the placement students were really easy to get along with so you will definitely not feel alone.

We are in the City. London. So it is expensive but this is expected. However you do get the occasional deals on cocktails on a Friday night which is great but the good thing is there are so many places to eat, drink and get on the dancefloor. So you will be spoilt for choice.

In the time spent at my placement, I never went out in the evenings I just couldn't wait to get home so I wouldn't be the best judge of this however I have attended clubs in the area with friends in the past and had a blast.

There were some community and charity events you could volunteer for so it was really up to you to get stuck in -the opportunities were there.