Summer Analyst Intern (Information Security) Review
at BlackRock
Internship (1 Month+)
Cyber Security
Edinburgh
Review Submitted: September 2026
Overall Rating
4.4 /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!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4.5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Support and Guidance
4.3/5
-
Company Culture
4.5/5
-
Overall Experience
3/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
As a Summer Analyst Intern in Information Security, my day-to-day involved analysing security and operational data to produce reporting metrics — including Excel-based dashboards and PivotTable analysis of occupancy data. I also worked on Splunk monitoring analysis to assess security log coverage, completed some early Python and Git/terminal-based tasks, and shadowed multiple Information Security teams including SOC, DLP, and Access & Identity Management. Towards the end of the internship, I presented my findings to senior stakeholders as part of the internship's final presentation.
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
Yes. I was given a real analytics project to work on independently, including deciding how to calculate and present key metrics, and my findings were used as part of a live discussion around reporting methodology. I also had the opportunity to raise a pull request on an internal repository and was trusted to represent my own work directly to senior stakeholders in the final presentation.
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
4/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
Yes. I developed my data analysis skills using Excel (formulas, PivotTables, dashboarding), gained hands-on exposure to Splunk for security monitoring, and built foundational Git and terminal skills alongside some Python and Azure exposure. I also strengthened my ability to explain technical reasoning clearly, both in writing and when presenting to senior stakeholders.
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?
4/5
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
5/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
I received a strong level of support throughout the internship. My managers were approachable and genuinely invested in my development, checking in regularly and providing constructive feedback. When I experienced two periods of illness, my managers and colleagues were understanding and supportive, ensuring I never felt pressured and that my work was covered without added stress. I also had regular access to more senior colleagues for guidance and technical questions.
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?
The atmosphere in the Information Security team was welcoming and supportive from day one. Colleagues across different sub-teams (SOC, DLP, AIM, DRISO) were happy to make time to explain their work and answer questions, which gave a good sense of how the wider department fits together. The team culture felt collaborative rather than hierarchical — my manager and colleagues treated my input and findings seriously even as an intern. Leaving drinks and a send-off lunch with the team at the end of the internship reflected how much people valued getting to know the interns, not just get work out of us.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
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?
I really enjoyed my time on the internship. Getting hands-on exposure to Splunk, security monitoring, and data analysis gave me a genuine feel for what a career in cybersecurity looks like day-to-day, and presenting my findings to senior stakeholders was a real confidence boost. The team's support made it easy to ask questions and get involved beyond my immediate project, including shadowing SOC, DLP, AIM, and DRISO. It's solidified that this is the field I want to build my career in.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
4/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BlackRock to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to BlackRock
Be genuinely curious and ask questions — the team is happy to explain their work and it's the best way to understand how the different security functions fit together. Don't be afraid to ask to shadow other teams if you're interested; I got exposure to SOC, DLP, AIM, and DRISO by asking, and it gave me a much broader view of the department. When it comes to your own project, focus on communicating your findings clearly rather than just the technical work — being able to explain what you found and why it matters to senior stakeholders made a real difference. Also, don't underestimate how much the internship is assessed on soft skills and initiative, not just technical output.
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at BlackRock
3/5
Did you receive an offer to return as a graduate?
No
