Chip Implementation Intern Review

My placement at Intel Corporation was a truly amazing experience both due to the technical experience I've had but also thanks to the amazing community onsite. I had the experience to contribute to actual engineering projects but also got to meet a wide variety of people and do some volunteering.

From the very start of my placement, I was included in team meetings and project planning. I was provided adequate support by my team to ramp up to my role but contributed with my own ideas and improvements. Once I was comfortable with what I was working on, I felt my team valued my presence and contributions.

Both my manager and my supervisor were extremely supportive throughout my placement. With regular bi-weekly 1:1 meetings, I was able to communicate my progress and any questions I had. Additionally, as this was my first time working in an engineering role, my supervisor was brilliant in providing the required materials and resources to learn and apply any specific technical concepts to our projects.

Once I completed my training, I was immediately given a set of tasks relevant to the project work my team was working on. Throughout the placement year, I felt I was given sufficient responsibility without feeling too overwhelmed. I feel my work has had an impact on project work and innovation within the team and I felt it was a reasonable amount.

The tasks I was assigned throughout my placement were of increasing difficulty and importance as I got better acquainted with the sort of work my team did. Initially, as I was new to the team, I was given some tasks relevant to the project but not of immense responsibility. Towards the end of the placement, I was given more important work to do.

The technical & non-technical skills I obtained throughout my placement are going to be extremely valuable at university and beyond. When I return, I will have a more in-depth knowledge of certain engineering concepts as well as a better idea of how to work efficiently as a team. Additionally, the tools and projects I’ve worked on are industry-standard and are valuable work experience to mention when applying to a job in the future, whether at Intel or outside.

In general, everyone in my office was very friendly and helpful. All the employees on site are fairly sociable and you get to meet a variety of people and participate in several events, if you choose to. I particularly enjoyed our office space as it was a fairly open space and you could reach out to anyone you needed to.

The internship as a whole was set up very well. I had support from the moment I signed my contract until the end and received all the information necessary regarding a variety of topics. The opportunity to work alongside the previous intern in my role during the handover period was a valuable experience too.

I received both personal and online training to develop the skills necessary for my role and the workplace. From a technical perspective, I had access to a variety of texts and online courses which helped me better understand the concepts I had to deal with. There were also useful talks and presentations onsite on a variety of non-technical topics.

After working at Intel Corporation for a year, it is now easier for me to get rehired, whether in my team or another in another department. Not only have I developed the skills necessary to succeed while working with an engineering team, but I have a better understanding of the company as a whole. If I wanted to work for Intel again, there are a variety of roles I could apply to.

The site I was on had about 40 placement students in different areas. Due to this, there was a very active social scene with frequent socials, meals out, etc. This made the placement year extremely enjoyable as I met a wide range of people from different backgrounds, universities and departments.

I was based in the Swindon office throughout my placement. The price of accommodation, restaurants, etc was fairly cheap and hence it made socializing with other interns easier and more enjoyable. I also managed to save quite a lot of the money I earned while on placement due to this.

There are a variety of pubs and clubs to go to in Swindon. I particularly enjoyed the old town area which had several friendly pubs in an accessible area. There are also two clubs near the city center where we have had several enjoyable socials at a fairly reasonable price.

Intel encourages their employees to participate in a variety of activities. In addition to parties and events, there are several committees for interns to volunteer and be creative. I was part of a committee that aimed to inspire students from nearby schools by showing the possibilities that a STEM career could entail, through a variety of demos and activities.