First Year Summer Internship Review

by HSBC

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.1/5
  • The Role
    4.7
  • The Company
    4.3
  • The Culture
    3.1

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • The internship was a good mix between hard work and good fun, from the hustle and bustle of branch work, to selling doughnuts for charity. There was a good variety of things to get stuck into.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • Being in a Branch Director site, I was not expecting to be as recognised or responsible as I was made. I was treated very much like part of the team, leading some team meetings even.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • Although my line manager was a very busy man, I never felt like I was left outside to hang. There was always someone, regardless of their rank, there to help me.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • The first two weeks were rather quiet, but that was because I was still organising my structure, and most of the things I could get stuck into I had not been taught yet. In the remaining weeks I was constantly busy, with a huge variety in what I was doing.

    4/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was responsible for getting through my checklist, doing all my training and organising my day to day activities. I was also given the opportunity to lead team meetings and send out minutes of the number of meetings held in the branch. There is a great deal of responsibility that can be had on this internship if looked for.

    5/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • I have improved my summary writing which will help in my law degree. Also, having presented to our area director and regional directors respectively, I am far more comfortable presenting to not only my peers, but also my superiors.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • I was in a very busy branch so there was not always the time to sit back and joke around. Staff did keep positive attitudes, however!

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • HSBC definitely made a clear effort in making this internship more structured. I had read other reviews on this website of how emails and privileges took 3 weeks to be set up. Both interns in my branch had theirs set up by the second day. There were clear guidelines to follow, without which, one can easily get lost within the branch. We had weekly targets to meet, such as work in premier by week two, or lead a team time by week 5 etc, to help you know what was expected of you.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • HSBC invested quite a bit in me. From the induction weekend to all the senior members of the bank who took the time to mentor me or offer advice, there was support offered at every level.

    5/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • National Travel

    3/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I have been asked to come back next year for the penultimate internship. This was within a week of finishing the first year scheme!

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • We were so scattered it was very difficult to meet up with other interns, however smaller groups in the same regions did have good social outings etc. My midlands region team became quite good friends by the end of the internship.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • I was living in my uni house for next year, very close to the branch. I did not spend much more than I would usually have spent.

    5/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • I did not go out during the placement. Mind you, this was a personal choice!

    1/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • In smaller groups, yes, but as the majority of the branch, no.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

Retail Banking

West Midlands

August 2013


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