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I really enjoyed my work experience, as I learned a vast amount of technical knowledge as well as how to conduct the daily work loads. My team was very helpful and took their time to answer my questions and explain. By having an intern staffer it was made sure that I would always be involved in the projects that were running in my team. The overall set up with mid-term review and feedback was helpful to improve my performance and to let me know how I was doing. Both my team as well as the company set up event to ensure we would network across the company and the team. Great experience.

Before even joining the desk my team organised after work drinks with us, so they could get to know us and we them. This way when we started working we already knew their names and had build up a relationship, which we could use when we had questions and were considering who to ask. By going with us for lunch, drinks or coffee they consistently made us feel like part of the team.

Our intern staffer took the time for both mid-term feedback and final feedback, having us fill out self-reviews and talking to us about potential improvements. It was very much encouraged for us to come and talk to senior management, ask them questions and pick their brains. I even received feedback from one of the senior managers, which was great as it showed me the impression from their perspective.

Since I did the summer internship it is hard to be kept busy over the entire work period, since the office gets very quiet in the summer. I was very busy without being too busy in my opinion in the start, although that did level off during the second part of the internship. But even then, when over the entire team it got quiet, the team was trying to ensure we would have tasks and continue to learn.

Of course when you start your team has to build trust in your capabilities and ensure that they can give you more responsibility. With time I was given more and more responsibility until I was solely responsible for some parts that were crucial to the project. Of course my seniors would review my work, but all amendments and final send out were put into my hands. It was great to feel this valued in the team.

Considering that I did the internship in the team that I would like to join full time the skills were 100% useful and necessary. Some of the skills I learned here are applicable across all industries, such as general work behaviour, communication, presentation, working with MS office etc.. But on top of these things I was taught extensively about how the industry works and what other teams do as well. Even if I chose not to stay in my team, I could use the knowledge I acquired in other departments.

My team has a very open and collegial athmosphere, in which they encourage building relationships that go beyond the simple working relationship. Most of the team members seem to be on a friends basis and spend time together outside of the office as well, such as over common after work drinks or meals.

The internship is very well structure, since it is the main recruiting tool for the following year full time positions. For that reason the placement in teams is very organised, there is extensive networking before the internship starts to establish which team one should join. There are a lot of mandatory intern events to strengthen the bonds between interns as well as set up connections across divisions.

The internship started off with a one week intensive training in all skill areas deemed necessary for the job. We had great materials, teachers and were provided food on a daily basis. On top of that there were several events where the company invested money to set them up to ensure we would have the greatest experience possible.

Since our internship is not yet finished, we do not know if we will receive a job offer yet. However I have been given very positive signs and we know that there are jobs available for us. The only task for us is to prove ourselves during the internship and show them that we have the qualities they are looking for in the job. Therefore great job prospects.

Since we were 5 interns in my team, we would go for lunch and coffee together. The overall intern group across the company also set up events during the weekends and would meet whether for drinks or for sports. As mentioned before the same went for the colleagues from my team, who really included us in their social gatherings.

London tends to be a very expensive city and of course if you go out it gets even more expensive. However in my team there was a solidarity with interns, as most of them were at that stage at some point, so they would not leave that out of sight when chosing a place to go to.

The area I worked in is slightly secluded. Going for a drink in a bar though is absolutely possible, there are several close by.

We are a very busy team so apart from the weekend, there was not that much free time to spend outside of work.