Intern Review

I enjoyed the majority of the placement year it gave a good insight into working in a professional corporate work environment. You learn quite a lot about recruitment and in most instances you are treated as equal to the consultants. The only downside would be long hours and I would make placements into organisations and get none of the recognition for doing so it would all go to my manager even though I would do the 360 cycle of recruitment from taking job in all the way to after-care. This was de-motivating as it felt I was beneath my colleagues even though I was doing the same work as them.

I felt valued by most colleagues there was never a time I felt useless to them. I did find that again being an intern I was treated slightly differently on targeted things. They would not write or include my name on these events which would make you fell less important. Overall I felt valued by the majority of the team.

I was given outstanding support and guidance throughout my internship from all staff from business director to the other consultants. I fee that the success of my internship and the placements that I made are as a result of the great support I was given. It was the right amount of learn for yourself and it always felt I could get help if i needed it.

It really varied on a daily basis. At the beginning it was very slow and it felt like I was not busy because I was just doing resourcing for other colleagues. Although I was calling people and meeting with them all the time it felt like I was not busy. When the role evolved into a 360 role I felt the speed really pick up and some weeks I would feel really busy and pressured with time so I learnt to prioritise.

I felt like i was fully responsible for my area and because of the clients and candidates I dealt with on a daily basis I felt there was more responsibility as if i was not communicating well it could have a knock on effect to colleagues working with clients. I am doing a 360 desk and making placements which are resulting in fees for the business and am involved with other areas of the business.

The soft skills I have learnt from my placement are really valuable this is because I now know how to behave in a professional manner when attending meetings with big clients. I have the confidence to deliver presentations to senior members of staff and feel that i have a more in depth knowledge of the working business world. This will certainly help with University as I will improve the quality of the presentations I get graded on.

The general atmosphere changed on a daily basis when you are near target there is a good buzz about the office everyone is in high spirits and it is an enjoyable environment. If however you were behind and finding it difficult there can be a dull or intense feeling in the office which can be uncomfortable.

There was a clear structure from the start to the finish of the placement. I felt the day we went and met up with the other interns at Cheapside after a few months reminded us of what path we were on and showed us the structure of our placement. There was a smooth transition from training to setting up work and moving forward to seeing what you can achieve.

They initially invest in you when you start by offering you daily training sessions these continue for 3 months and you get an in depth knowledge of recruitment from senior members of staff. You also go out of office to a training office where a trainer will deliver you this again and when you are back at your desk you get some on the job training overall ensuring that you are highly qualified in what you do.

Working in London it will always be highly expensive to socialise however working for Hays they offer a variety of incentives which if you or your team or floor achieve you can earn free drinks in the pub or attend various events. This then makes going out with colleagues a bit more affordable as some of it will be subsidised by Hays if you are performing well.

I have always lived in London so nightlife was in line with what i expected.