This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I enjoyed the projects I was involved in throughout the placement as I gained experience in areas I had little skills in prior. I liked the fact GE allowed me to indulge in any projects I had an interest in. Not only that but I was regularly provided with feedback regarding the work I had carried out all of which helped me develop into more rounded person.
I was given a lot of responsibility and was even involved in project managing/leading several projects. My colleagues appreciated the work I carried out on a daily basis and I didn't feel like an intern at all.
During monthly meetings my manager would outline my priorities and objectives. He would also critically analyse my performance and provide me with tips in order to improve it. The constant feedback helped me identify key areas and skill sets that I needed to develop. I was even able to suggest project ideas to my manager and I was often able to get involved in projects I was interested in.
I was quite busy however we were not micro managed therefore I was able to get on with my work without stressing about specific deadlines. I often left the office on time however when working with employees in the U.S I would find myself working over time, though this didn't occur frequently.
I was given a lot of responsibility as I had to manage systems that my team members had limited information on. The responsibility given to me helped develop my leadership skills and confidence.
Many of the skills I developed such as leadership will help me when I begin applying for graduate jobs. Not only that but I also received team work based training which will be relevant when working on some of my final year modules. I'm now more aware of organisational structures and software development methodologies how they can be used in the real world. I've gained actual experience that backs up most of the theoretical knowledge I gained from my degree.
The Company
Laid back environment within the office. There appears to be no organisational structure as many of the leaders within the company are very friendly and will greet you which is great.
The work placement was very organised. During my first week I met all of the other interns and was slowly introduced to GE initiatives/programmes. Not only that but the intern change over period was 3 weeks so I had a lot of time to adjust to my role.
I didn't really receive any formal training however my colleagues would often spend time to teach me how to carry out new activities.
Subsidised/Company Gym
Financial Bonus
Above 25 days holiday
Working from home
GE have a great graduate scheme and many of the current interns secure graduate roles. I've decided my future lies elsewhere.
The Culture
Yes, interns often organise events. Not only that but within office there are several after work activities such as yoga and gym.
I lived quite far from the office therefore my accommodation was relatively cheap. Food within the area is relatively cheap as there are several convenient stores 1 minute away.
There wasn't really a nightlife scene however central London was 45 minutes away on the train.
Yes there were several activities, such as badminton, yoga and soccer.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
June 2016