This is Ben Ross, a Finance Intern for the Scottish Salmon Company

Ben is a 20 year old student at Strathclyde University in Scotland. Currently studying International Business, he has developed an interest in Finance and Marketing, and is currently considering working in one of these given fields.

Tell me about a job that really stuck out in your mind.

The first job I ever had was working as a Finance Intern at the Scottish Salmon Company. It was my first time working in a proper office environment. Having worked a lot in Hospitality in recent years, the internship was very memorable.

What were your main roles in the company?

The main task I was assigned was to update the fixed asset list of the company. As the company’s main business is salmon farming, they had a lot of equipment necessary to undertake the task. I had to create surveys and questionnaires for each farming site. Each form listed the fixed assets that the company had on record. These were sent off to the site managers, and they had to fill out the form, stating whether they still had the asset, if it was broken, and anything in between.

Once these were filled out, they sent them back to me, and I had to transfer the data to the new fixed asset list. Some managers took too long to get back to me so I had to do a lot of chasing up. I also had to research any assets that the company didn't have anymore and find potential replacements.

Did you enjoy this job?

Honestly, I’m glad I had the experience, but the job itself wasn't particularly engaging. Whilst it gave me the chance to experience the office environment, the job took a while to get done since there was a lot of waiting for managers to get back to me. It did give me insight as to what a potential career in the field of Finance could look like, so I enjoyed getting my first taste of the “real world”.

How would you describe the overall atmosphere/environment?

The office I worked in was small, there were only about 7 or 8 other workers in my department. They were all very friendly, someone was always on hand to make tea, so that was great. The atmosphere was relaxed, wasn't stressful to be honest. I was able to get my work done, whilst also being able to soak up the environment around me.

What was your boss like?

My boss worked at the desk right next to mine, so I always had to stay on my toes. Even so, my boss was very welcoming and helpful if there was something I didn't understand. She kept a good, healthy relationship with all her staff, and had consistent meetings where she would keep tabs on how mine and everyone else’s work is going. It didn't feel overbearing.

What was the workload like?

Well it was just an internship, so I didn't get given a lot to do. Once I had sent off the forms, there was a lot of waiting for the managers to get back to me. In between, I had to go round and check if there was any more work that I could help with. The days ran from 8 AM to 5 PM during the week, and I was always able to get out on time, which was a great benefit.

Any other benefits or chances to grow offered?

My favorite benefit about this job was that we got free breakfast rolls every Friday. It was a really nice way to end a long week of work. I was treated to lunch a couple times during my stint so that was always pleasant. There wasn't a huge chance for growth in my position, since the workload overall wasn't massive and my time there was short. The job was a starter.

Do you feel like a better worker from your time there?

Well, it gave me the chance to get my foot into the world of work, and gave me an understanding of what a career in Finance may hold in the future. However, due to the issue of not being given a huge amount of responsibility, I don't feel like my skills were developed. The job really just opened my eyes to the many different possibilities my career may hold.

What advice would you give someone at the start of the same job?

I personally wouldn't go back. Not because it was a bad job, but because I feel like I can do more. My advice would be that you shouldn't take a job like this if you're looking for another stepping stone in your career. As I said earlier, this was a starter job - a way to get an idea of the chosen field. It’s a great way to ease yourself in, but not if you want to make strides in your own career. Also, keep looking for tasks you can complete, especially if the job, like this one, may have you waiting around a lot.

Watch Ben's tips on how to find an internship in Finance

#finance #scottishsalmoncompany