Intern Review

I enjoyed the insight very much because I had the opportunity to experience working for the company that I intend to work for in the future. I enjoyed being in the vicinity of historical buildings where all the important decisions about the country are decided. The insight gave me a unique, fun and memorable experience which will help me in my future career.

I felt valued because I was given the same treatment as an ordinary employee in the company. They did not treat me differently because I was only going to be around for a short period of time. I also felt trusted because they allowed me to work on important things which made me feel like they believed in my abilities.

During the insight, I was assigned a personal mentor. She assisted me throughout the week and answered all my questions. I also met her colleagues who were also happy to help me and discuss certain topics. I received a lot of support which was invaluable, particularly because I am only in my first year and my knowledge about the work is still limited.

The internship was directly related to my degree in politics. Therefore, the knowledge and information I developed throughout the week will directly help my studies. After university, I intend to work for the civil service and the insight week gave me a better understanding of the selection process for the graduate scheme therefore I can prepare more thoroughly when the time comes.

The insight featured a lot of activities throughout the week. It ranged from networking workshops to talks from inspirational activities which truly developed my skills and interest in politics. There was no dull moment and we were constantly challenged to perform our best and make the most of the time we were there.

The general atmosphere during the week was exciting. Everyone was eager to learn and were very happy to be there. It was a long and competitive application process which made us appreciate the opportunity even more. It was also a wonderful experience for me and others who live outside London to experience working in the big city.

The company invested in me by providing resources such as the presentations that were used so I can look at them after the internship has finished. I have also received detailed feedback regarding my application assessments and interview which will help me in future applications. I also received verbal feedback from my mentor.

The insight immersed us into the company and we were able to observe what happens in a day to day basis. It helped me understand what it felt like to be a full time employee because I felt like I was one throughout the internship. I was also able to ask questions to the actual employees about their experience.

The insight helped me understand the company culture because we saw how the company worked on a personal basis. I also saw how the employees helped each other to achieve their goals and tasks. It helped me understand that solidarity and teamwork are important and that these are skills that I need to develop in order to be considered for a role in the future.

The content of the insight week gave me reassurance that it is the career path I wish to follow. It also gave me other places to look for opportunities and other internships. It also gave me a chance to network and speak to like-minded people about their future plans. This opened my eyes to wider options and new possibilities to consider.

There were plenty of opportunities to network because it was an integral part of the internship. We were able to meet all the mentors from different departments and compare our experiences at the end of the internship. We were also able to talk directly with high ranking employees and exchange contact details which will be invaluable.

The networking and social event opportunities were really exciting because I was able to meet a number of individuals who were also students from different universities across the country. I was able to compare my experiences with people on a similar course and I also learnt about other peoples' experiences on courses that were different from mine. This was a good opportunity and learning experience.

I did not specifically ask about this, however I know that London is a very busy city and there are plenty of activities and events that the employees could get involved in outside of work. I would personally look for these activities myself and plan things with friends but I do believe that the company has a great system to support and help employees adapt to their city.

I will definitely recommend this insight to like-minded friends. It was intense and difficult but that is the nature of a job in the civil service. It was particularly rewarding because the decisions affect the people but it is definitely worthwhile. The insight week is a unique chance to be involved with such an esteemed employer and if anyone had the chance to do it I will definitely encourage them to take it.