Sara Chong from Woodhouse College in North London completed a four-week paid summer internship at Citi. Find out how her time there gave her the skills and motivation to pursue her ambitions.
Prior to starting her internship, Sara felt unprepared for both the world of work and her future.
“Before my internship, I was lacking in confidence and had little to no work experience. I was unsure of my future and what I wanted to do after my A-Levels because I was inexperienced and had little exposure to the opportunities available to me.”
But her four-week paid internship at Citi changed all of that.
“Now, after my internship, I am far more confident and able to communicate more effectively, especially with people more senior than me. I’m much more prepared for the working environment.”
Getting out of your comfort zone
Sara’s internship encouraged her to challenge herself in a new environment and, in turn, develop key skills like communication and networking.
“There were networking events organised by Citi that I attended, but I also arranged to meet and talk to people over coffee from all different areas of the bank – something I never would have felt confident enough to do before.”
Sara also gained an insight into LinkedIn and how to use it to her advantage in the future.
“My colleagues at Citi highlighted the importance of LinkedIn, and helped me make the most out of it – I am hoping the connections I’ve made during the internship will benefit me in the future.”
She had the opportunity to see the more philanthropic side of a large organisation like Citi through their employee volunteering programme too.
“I was able to take part in a community volunteering day where I helped to paint railings of a local park (Victoria Park) – which was a great way to give back to the community.”
Looking ahead with confidence
When it comes to her next steps, Sara now feels more prepared and aware of her options – including the multiple paths she can take to a successful future.
“I feel like I’ll take part in more opportunities now and have a greater sense of direction about where I want to be in the future. This experience has also shown me the variety of jobs and opportunities available – before my internship I was fixed on only the university route, but now I’m considering apprenticeships and school leaver programmes.”
After interning at Citi, Sara is now set on working in financial services – with an ambition to continue working with her internship employer.
“This experience has strengthened my initial idea of entering financial services and has propelled me to work even harder in order to enter the same company where I was an intern, or one similar in the future.”
“My mentor and the internship have taught me so much about the world of work, and not just how to operate in it, but thrive in it.”
Sara also reflected on her experience on the Career Ready programme as a whole.
“The programme exceeded my expectations. It has helped me grow and develop more than I could have imagined, both personally and professionally. It’s been an incredible experience and one that I’ll be eternally grateful for. I would encourage anyone considering joining the programme to do so!”
