Operations Intern Review

I absolutely loved the experience with Amazon, it was insightful rewarding and I learned a huge amount that could never be picked up in a university class. I have in fact carried some of the practices picked up during my internship into my studies, aiding my project work and report writing.

From the day I joined I was made to feel extremely welcomed and part of the team. From the associates to senior management- every member of staff I met made me feel included and part of the team. The sense of community within the facility was overwhelming and quite a shock to me. Everybody knows and talks to each other, this is something I had never experienced in previous workplaces. My opinion was always valued and taken on board during meetings/ discussions and this gave me a real sense of purpose. I was most definitely made to feel valued with a real sense of appreciated purpose.

A great deal of support and guidance were given to me, supplemented by the structured training programs in place for new recruits into the company. While there was an incredible amount of information to learn and grasp quickly, the methods in which this information was relayed made it very achievable. The support and guidance not only came from managers/ supervisors but also Senior Managers/ Associates who I worked closely with on a daily basis. I never once felt uncomfortable to ask a question, no matter how trivial, as I knew that somebody would be happy to answer. On top of this general feeling of support I was also given specific assistance within my project which was part of my internship remit from my line manager, and my assigned mentor.

A working day within Amazon is so busy it's bordering on hectic, but never out of control. A "buzz" is the only way I can think to describe the atmosphere. You are constantly busy and for that reason the days fly by. This fast paced work atmosphere promotes discipline to stay organised and on top of your workload at all times, if not it could be possible to fall behind. You definitely need to have a strong work ethic with focus to get the task in hand completed because without it, you can get sidetracked easily in such a busy environment.

The level of responsibility given during the internship was excellent. The main responsibility was the ownership of a continuous improvement project within the facility with the addition of some other tasks which would fall under the remit of an Area Manager. This sense of responsibility given was significant and initially daunting but overall a very nice balance in my opinion. Enough responsibility to be accountable for things but not in over my head and feeling out of my depth.

From remaining focused on the task at hand, instilling a good work ethic, improving my project work, data analysis skills, report writing and working on my professionalism... I learned a lot. These are all skills I have built upon and taken forward into my final years of university. Now during uni assignments when working with external clients in industry, I feel much more comfortable and confident knowing I can produce work to a good standard and that I can conduct myself to convey my ideas articulately.

The atmosphere was fun, energetic and lively. The dress code was casual and everybody was pretty chilled out. I spent the vast majority of my time within the warehouse of the Fulfilment Centre where the mood was mostly upbeat and happy! A very nice balance of busy but chilled was struck and, overall a great atmosphere to work in.

The internship was very well organised and controlled, there was definite structure in place for my training, learning and development. As well as numerous members of staff assigned to support and guide me with a Manager, Mentor, an Internship Coordinator/ Program Manager. I had a clear purpose, training schedule etc and there was an excellent level of contact maintained by all.

My training and development was structured with both general and specific training course modules assigned to me and from this I feel I gained a huge amount from the time invested in me during my internship. I was given my own tailored training plan which focused on my area of work, the department I was working in and this was also supplemented with a huge catalogue supporting modules openly available to me.

Without appearing presumptuous or arrogant, I feel my prospects of employment with Amazon will have been helped by the internship as I have been given a chance to show and prove my capabilities within the workplace. I was given supportive feedback on my performance for the duration of the internship and this has allowed me to focus on areas of professional development.

I was the only intern at the time but the social scene amongst the employees was good.

A few local cafes, restaurants and pubs within the area.

During my internship, which was for 10 weeks during the Summer, there were multiple barbecues laid on by the company to make the most of the nice weather. There was also a large family fun day event organised where employees were invited to bring their families along to the local country park for a fete-like day out. I was told events like this are not unusual and a pretty regular occurrence within the company.