SWG Finance Integration Analyst; Europe, Middle East and Africa Review

Obviously being a placement student some of the tasks I am given are quite dull. However, the subject matter is really interesting and I feel like I have genuinely added value to my team and been a useful addition.

On the whole, my team were really good at thanking me for things I had done well and I felt that I had a genuine speciality and was a 'go to' guy for certain problems

I effectively had two lines of management. My task manager was my day to day manager, he gave me the tasks to complete and was main main source of feedback. I also had my Personal Development Manager who was there to ensure that I was progressing properly and that I was enjoying my placement. I have really good relationships with both managers and feel that whenever I need help on anything that I have somebody I can turn to. If not them, then other members of my team

I came in during a light period and was able to cope even though I hadn't got to grips with my role properly at that point. However about half way through my year a very large project came to a head and I became very busy, regularly working extra hours just to keep up with the flow of work and I found it quite stressful. Having passed this phase now however, I am glad to have been through it as I know how I handle pressure and I learnt a massive amount during the process.

When I first started this placement, we were told from previous interns how much genuine responsibility we would be given from the word go, and it was true! I spent 3 weeks with my previous intern. After that I was expected to complete any tasks she would have done to the same standard as she would have done them. When somebody contacted me, they didn't know they were contacting a placement student, as far as they were concerned I was just another person in the team, so I had to be as competent as anybody else. The tasks I completed during my year were important and I completely understand why I have to complete them and why they are vital.

Not so much in the sense of my degree studies. To be honest I haven't used any Maths this year, but the life skills I have gained have been unbelievable, time management, prioritisation, project management and even down to littler things like being able to effectively write a professional Email. In that sense I could not recommend the placement more highly

Our area of the office was always populate with a fair amount of people so there was often conversations going on, and everybody always had time to say hello or have a chat, even up to the very top. I often found myself chatting about football with senior management people but they never imposed their seniority on situations

I feel that I've been very lucky with my role and the continual work I have received. A lot of the other interns I speak to do not have a lot of work to do, certainly not enough to fill their time. That said, The actual organisation of the year was very good, I was kept well informed during my application and was always made aware of up coming events.

There were various training events that we had to undertake, countless online training courses and optional training could be undertaken. Very helpful with organising shadowing etc.

there's a scheme in which I can apply back and I wont have to retake the tests if I had got a high enough score for the grad scheme first time. then depending on how my year went I may find it easier to progress through the process

Everybody I met was really normal and friendly and I have made some genuine friends.

cost of living is quite decent, I had no problems affording to live whilst in Portsmouth

Awful, good for a while but Portsmouth gets very dull very quick

Yes, sports teams and Tennis clubs, gyms etc, also an IBM organised club that goes on trips to places like the west end