Data & Analytics Graduate Review

I enjoyed my experience on the grad scheme. The opportunity to rotate around different business areas gave me many opportunities to learn and figure out where I wanted to go with my career long term. I'm disappointed that the business is moving away from the rotation structure moving forwards. I found there to be a great culture around work life balance at NatWest, I felt very respected and considered. We were given great access to learning sessions, a graduate network, and socials to get to know our cohort.

I rotated across four teams in 6 month placements. In each team I was responsible for learning new skills and systems to contribute to the team's project, I was given meaningful technical work in usually involving SQL or Python, and I initiated conversation when I needed support or to build my network.

Tasks are given to graduates according to their skill and ability to complete them. I was given less meaningful tasks while in learning phases to help me gain skills and confidence, and more meaningful tasks further into each placement when I could confidently work independently.

I felt very fairly paid for my work.

The rotation system was hugely valuable for me to gain a breadth of experience and knowledge. There was a degree of luck with the teams I was placed in, but I was very fortunate to end up in teams with great managers and opportunities to learn. These experiences set me up well to confidently move into a permanent role when the scheme completed.

I felt very supported by the managers in each of my placements as well as my graduate manager who stayed with me throughout the two years. The only area where I felt I lacked support occasionally was from the graduate programme organisers, who were sometimes hard to reach and lacked transparency during times of change and transition.

I think NatWest cultivates a very healthy work life balance. This was a huge plus of my experience on the graduate programme.

I find the culture at NatWest to be very kind, welcoming, and learning focused. As a graduate there are great opportunities to learn, hear directly from senior leaders, and explore different teams and areas. The values of the bank feel positive.

There are fantastic internal employee networks for LGBTQ+, multicultural, and other groups at NatWest that are run by passionate employees. Unfortunately, these groups do not always feel embraced and supported by the wider bank. For example, the company no longer puts up decorations for pride as they did in the past.

Yes

Good compensation, really healthy work life balance, great opportunities to learn.