Why did you choose to do an internship?
I decided to apply for internships as I wanted to gain as much experience as I could before I started applying for Graduate roles. I was aware of how competitive the Graduate Market is so wanted to get a head start with some valuable work experience to allow my CV to stand out against the thousands of CVs that employers will be receiving. I also thought it would be really beneficial to do an internship as I would be able to get a feel for an industry/role and then decide if it suited what I was looking to do long term.
How did it tie in with your overall career plans?
After researching different roles within the insurance market, I knew I had a keen interest in pursuing a career within Insurance. However, due to the variety of different roles that you can pursue, I wasn’t sure which route I wanted to go down whether it be Broking, Underwriting, Claims etc. Upon completing an internship at Aon, I was able to gain exposure to different roles which helped me think about my long-term career plans. I was offered a graduate position after completing my internship which meant that I had a job lined up for when I had completed my degree so therefore it fit in perfectly to my overall career plans.
What was the application process like?
The application process was tough and there were a number of different stages that I had to go through.
The first stage, like most applications, started with an online application. I personally think this is one of the most crucial stages in applying for roles as this is where the employer will give its first impressions on you and your CV and essentially either put you through to the next stage or reject your application.
Although it is time consuming, I would really advise tailoring your CV to the specific role and company that you are applying for. The next stage involved a situational judgement test and a numerical reasoning test. I found the best way to tackle these were just practice, practice and more practice. The next stage was an online video interview, followed by an assessment centre and then lastly a final interview.
My advice to anyone applying for internships would be not to give up in applying if you receive numerous rejections as eventually there will be a role and company suited to you and your skills.
What attracted you to your role?
I was attracted to my role as I really liked the idea of putting in to context some of the things I had learnt whilst at university in to a real-life context. Furthermore, I wanted to interact with a range of different people and completing this internship allowed me to do this on a daily basis, enabling me to start building up my network right from the start. From an early age, I knew I wanted to work in the City and due to the Insurance Market having a significant place and role in the City of London. I felt this was an exciting path to take.
What were your main duties?
I was given the opportunity to shadow a variety of brokers and claims technicians which enabled me to see the different sides to insurance. As well as working day-to-day in Claims & Client Services, I also completed a Corporate Social Responsibility project which involved interacting with different interns, clients and colleagues in different teams.
As a group, we were set the task of raising awareness of a community garden which exists to improve the physical and emotional well-being of those who live, work or study in Camden and surrounding areas. At the end of the internship, we presented our achievements to a large audience which was really useful in improving our presentation and communication skills.
What were the most important things you learnt from the internship?
The most important thing I Iearnt from completing the internship was that it is crucial to enjoy the work and role that you do. Whilst completing my internship at Aon, I genuinely enjoyed the work I was set and interacting with different individuals. Before undertaking the internship at Aon, I had completed other internships and realised that I had not fully enjoyed the industry I was working in.
Furthermore, the internship allowed me to gain a brief overview of how the insurance market works, which has been really valuable for when starting my graduate role as I have an understanding of the basics.
Do you have any advice for someone seeking an internship?
My advice would be to keep on applying until you are offered an internship, ensuring that you take the time to complete the application to the best of your ability. Furthermore, when you are completing your internship, make sure you ask as many questions as possible. It is great for you to not only learn but also great for employers to see that you are taking a real interest.
If when completing your internship, you have days when you don’t have much work to do, don’t be afraid to ask if anyone needs any help. However, more than anything, enjoy your internship and make the most of the opportunities you are given.