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
Overall I found my placement at Travelport enjoyable and worthwhile.
My colleagues appreciated the work I produced and would often give thanks. The reports were well received and valued and I understood what the work was used for. I was treated like one of the team from the start and shown respect by my colleagues.
My manager was always approachable and contactable, also providing guidance on the company's systems and industry specific knowledge whenever I was in need of assistance. Other colleagues were also happy to provide support on any queries I had.
I think the job found a good balance of business. The workload could vary day to day which was good as it kept the job interesting. There was always work to be done, however during demanding times I wasn't expected to go beyond my call of duty.
I was accountable for my work and was responsible for how I managed most of my time. I also contributed work to important new projects. Colleagues would use and rely on the information I provided, however much of the work and analysis I did was passed on to colleagues to use, rather than me explaining and giving the work exposure myself.
A skill I became aware of and developed during my placement is self management. It helps as I have now seen the importance of prioritisation, planning and and time management as well as keeping myself motivated and conduct myself in a professional manner. A general but fundamental skill I can call upon in future. Technical skills include using cognos and Qlikview data systems and I became proficient at data handling and using Excel for analysis which may be useful in my future career.
The Company
The general atmosphere of the office was positive and friendly. It was a comfortable environment to work and there was good amount of light hearted conversation.
The set up of the placement was good. The job role and what was expected of me was clear. I had introductory meetings and handover periods to understand and get the hang of the job. I would also have catch up team meetings regularly and many intern specific events were organised to provide insights within other areas Travelport and personal development classes.
Necessary training was provided and support was available to help me with my work. Workshops were also provided to develop as an employee.
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
A graduate scheme for placement students is not implemented at Travelport as the office here is not able to enrol everyone, however if an applicable job becomes open, previous interns will be alerted first.
The Culture
Although the office is based in a slightly secluded area there were a decent number of social events that took place with colleagues and fellow interns. A number of interns were based locally so we were able to do things after work sometimes. There was also a work social club which organises events which was easy to get involved with. There are also team lunches and work do's that take place throughout the year.
Renting housing was fairly reasonable around the office area, socialising tended to require a bit of travel to meet up with others but generally was a standard cost.
There are a number of pubs and bars around, but they normally required a bit of travel. Windsor was a common option. Not bad to have a drink and chat, however clubs were limited and pretty average at best. If feeling adventurous could head into London but it is quite a long round trip.
I got involved with the work football which took place one a week, but I was not aware of many other activities out of work.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
September 2016