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Summer Intern Review

at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Internship (1 Month+)

Government

London

Review Submitted: August 2022

Overall Rating

4.5 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Role
4.5/5 - Skills Development
5/5 - Support and Guidance
4/5 - Company Culture
5/5 - Overall Experience
4/5 - Future Career Prospects

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
My work and responsibilities have varied over the course of the internship, depending on the specific tasks that I was working on at a given point in time. However, for the most part, I've worked on thematic review projects; while these have all differed in content, they've mostly involved a combination of spreadsheet work, data analysis, coming up with recommendations, and presenting my work to the team I'm placed in.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
Yes - I've been given quite a significant degree of responsibility and autonomy during my internship; although my line manager has frequently checked in with me, it's been largely up to me to decide how to approach/manage my own work. Moreover, the work I've been doing has tangibly contributed to my team's overall goals.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
Formal training sessions have been delivered on presentation skills and self-management. More substantively, my day-to-day work has given me ongoing to develop my judgement and decision-making skills, as well as my ability to analyse information and data. My knowledge of financial services regulation, and the financial services industry more broadly, has also expanded significantly.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
4/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
4/5

Support and Guidance

How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
Not only has my line manager been very involved in my work, everyone in the department has been open to talking to me and giving me advice when I've asked for it. Moreover, I feel like all the colleagues in my team have listened to me and adapted to make sure that I can make the most out of my time here. Having a graduate buddy outside my team has also been helpful.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
5/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
5/5

Company Culture

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
In general, supportive, open, and relaxed.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
4/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
4/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
4/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
4/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
The internship has been interesting and varied. I've been lucky to be placed in a great team and also to be part of a very social intern cohort.
That said, I would say that some of the centrally-organised aspects of the internship (induction, formal training, community project) have been less relevant and engaging that the work/training that my team and wider department have offered. Overall, though, I've enjoyed it.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5

Future Career Prospects

Please rate the future employment prospects at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
4/5

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
I think it's important to have an idea of which area of the FCA you're interested in when you apply - I know there are areas that wouldn't have suited me if I'd been placed there. In terms of interviews/assessment centres, I'd just point out how much the FCA emphasises its values and JEDS in the application process.
In This Review
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