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 couldn't have asked for a better placement. There was constantly something new to be working on and I got to take on a huge variety of tasks.
Everyone at Sparx treats you equally and as one of the team. The jobs I was given were challenging and enjoyable and not the typical idea of an interns role of just making tea and coffee and filing paperwork. I definitely felt valued by my colleagues through my whole time with the company.
I was given invaluable support by both management/supervisors and all colleagues. Everyone was always incredibly helpful and supportive and there was always somebody willing to help or give advice. I always felt comfortable asking for help if I needed it and had regular meetings with management to ensure I was happy with the work I was undertaking.
There is always a lot of work to do at Sparx so my days were often busy with lots of different tasks. Having such a variety of jobs meant the days flew by and I was constantly learning about different things to do with the company. Likewise, there was a good balance of time spent doing jobs without tight deadlines that allowed me to not feel overwhelmed with work each day.
I feel I was given a large amount of responsibility during my placement and this meant I didn't feel like an intern but just part of the company. I would have help from colleagues whenever necessary and would liaise with people on a regular basis when carrying out certain projects.
I have no doubt that the skills I have developed at Sparx will continue to benefit me in the future with all that I go on to do. I have certainly gained skills for life.
The Company
The general atmosphere at Sparx is always a lot of fun. there is so much going on with sports, out of work social events and activities and everyone has such a positive attitude towards the work they do everyday.
Overall the work placement was very well organised and set up throughout.
Where appropriate, the company were very helpful in teaching new, or developing existing skills that would benefit a task I was undertaking and myself.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
Company Parties/Events
Future employment prospects are very appealing within the company and there are often opportunities for a role that is adapted to suit your strengths and preferences.
The Culture
There is a great social scene amongst fellow colleagues and interns with events or activities being run almost every week. These are both in the office and outside and separate from work.
Exeter is a relatively low priced city to live in which allows you to do lots of different things without spending a lot of money. Work events are mostly free which means everyone is included.
The nightlife in Exeter is good, there are clubs and lots of bars to choose from in the city centre.
There are loads of opportunities to get involved in activities outside work. Exeter is close to a few beaches which means there is plenty of beach and water based sports to get involved in or sports like netball, climbing and football.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Business Operations, Data Science, Education/Teaching, Human Resources, Marketing, PR & Communications, Purchasing and Supply
South West
August 2016