Work Experience Student Review

- following around a banker, and other professionals to see the work they do daily - talking to customers about their experience with Barclays and what they look for in a bank - discussing the pros and cons of promotional offers, and the best way to attract new customers - looking into the local demographic of the area and how this affects how people use the bank

- interpersonal skills: i developed my social skills from talking to a variety of different customers and banking staff - the importance of different social factors that affect how a business may run - the work that banking staff do on a daily basis, and the mathematical skills they need to do so effectively - teamwork and collaboration skills

I enjoyed my work experience very; I've always had an interest in finance and banking, and it was very interesting to see what someone in the field does on a daily basis. The importance of teamwork was more emphasised than I initially expected, which was a pleasant surprise as I enjoy working with people.

it was very well organised, although there wasn't a lot to do on a few days. this was not down to the work experience organisation, but rather how busy the bank was. i was given directions to the bank prior, and even if there nothing to observe, I could still talk to staff and lean more about the financial sector.

i learned a lot on what it would be like to work in a bank specifically, but not so much on the financial sector overall; i know what it would be like to work in that are specifically. but i'm still unsure on what the environment would be like if i was to work as an accountant or a different role in the same field.

i went into my work experience pretty sure i wanted to do banking and finance as part of my further education, but the work experience helped confirm this is the field for me, as i now have first hand experience, rather than relying on others. it helped me make a decision for myself and weigh up the benefits of working in such a career.

no, i was not paid or reimbursed. however, the experience was worth it in and of itself, and i was told that i would not be paid. it was made clear that this was an insight scheme/work experience placement, so it was to be expected that it would be unpaid.

yes, i was given the chance to talk to most of the staff in the bank and the skills they need to do their job efficiently on a daily basis. i was also given their extension numbers if i wanted to call in and ask any further questions or set up an interview for my EPQ

Yes

it was a very useful experience, and can really help decide if banking is a suitable career for you, and if you can see yourself doing it in the future. working in the environment first hand is very different from reading other peoples experience, and can really make a difference on your decisions in the future regarding your career.

make sure you have an interest in banking, and are familiar with basic key terms and concepts. if you are successful in your application, make sure to read up on any recent news so you can discuss your research with the staff and get their opinions. take a notebook to make any notes on anything interesting you see or learn.