Consultant Review

My placement has opened my eyes to 'the real world' and I have gained a thorough understanding of the opportunities available to me. At times my placement was tough and there were times where it wasn't particularly exciting, but I was able to apply domain-specific knowledge to my work and was given real responsibility. I had numerous opportunities on my placement, working on various projects across a broad portfolio, and even had the opportunity to directly liaise with clients. I was also able to take time out of my job role to volunteer at different events, such as helping out local communities, landscaping at a zoo and supporting Assessment Centres. The work I was completing was very high-level and the insights I have gained are invaluable.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues - I felt like a real part of the team from day one, and was given an array of positive feedback throughout the duration of my placement. The work I produced was of high standards, which pleased my colleagues greatly, and I was given a lot of praise. Being given the responsibility to liaise with clients and lead projects for global companies emphasised this, demonstrating that my colleagues trusted me.

The support I have been given during my placement has been phenomenal. Not just by my managers, but also by the wider team. I have been given opportunities to pursue my own research interests, and have been backed in these pursuits. I have also been encouraged to think of new and innovative ways of doing things, with the full support of others. Having regular reviews also management to feedback on how they feel you are getting on, and as mentioned, I have received a vast amount of feedback during my time on placement, providing me not just with praise, but also with areas for development, whereby I can become to best possible employee that I can be. My manager always made time for weekly 1:1s with me to discuss what I had been getting up to and to discuss areas for development, and any areas of further interest I had, and they helped me to pursue these interests.

Generally I have been very busy over the duration of my placement. Particular in Q4 and Q1, where I was entrusted to handle work tasks for multiple projects simultaneously. During these periods, I have worked long hours, stayed in the office late and needed to manage the expectations of others, and my own time, effectively in order to meet tight deadlines. However, I have also experienced quieter periods whereby I have had the time to catch up on administrative tasks and pursue my own research interested. But generally, the balance has been fair.

I have been given more responsibility than I could have ever imagined on my placement. I have lead projects for multi-national companies, who possess thousands of employees, and have liaised with and managed my own clients. I have contributed to work that makes a real difference to the business, and also helps other organisations to improve. I have also had the opportunity to present my own work to clients, and have attended meetings with many.

I have developed significantly over the past year - not just in a professional manner but a personal one too. I have gained new skills (such as learning to be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel) and have developed existing skills (such as my ability to manage time and expectations). I have also improved my ability in using SPSS which is extremely important in Psychology. My presentation skills have also vastly improved, which will be very useful in the future, both in the final year of my degree when I am needed to present the results of my dissertation to others, and also in my future career endeavors.

The atmosphere in the office was very friendly and relaxed, and everyone was always up for a joke and a laugh. There were times when the office was quiet, generally when people were concentrating on completing work on tight deadlines, but this did not detract from the overall atmosphere. The office I was based in provided a fairly niche environment, but that has only enhanced my experience.

Generally the placement was well organised. All relevant employment information came through at the right time and being allocated a 'Task Manager' and an 'Early Professional's Manager' made life easy. There were some hiccoughs during the application stage for me, and communication lacked in this period, but once this was sorted, and I had been offered my position, all went smoothly.

The training and development I received over the last year was phenomenal. I received all of the necessary and relevant training I needed for my job role before I was set tasks, but found that in fact, learning 'on the job' made things easier. I was given all of the support I needed in order to ensure I was completing work to a high standard - I was never afraid to ask questions! I also had ample opportunities to complete training in other areas of the business, through webinars, online classrooms and when attending events - further improving my business acumen. My development has been consistently monitored over the last year and I have seen a huge change in my professional manner, and I am very proud of my achievements. My development and performance has been reviewed 3 times in 12 months, which has enabled both my managers and myself to measure my development.

Future job prospects are very appealing - I have really enjoyed my placement, and have succeeded in my role. The relaxed atmosphere and 'flexible' working opportunities are extremely appealing, and make life much easier, further enhancing a work-life balance, particularly when commuting a substantial distance is not always easy. The development opportunities and support I have received throughout the year also make future employment within the company extremely appealing. The Foundation scheme is, truly, incredible.

We had a fairly small team but attended fairly regular 'work drink' events, usually on Thursdays. Although I was not based in the main London location, I have become great friends with my fellow interns and we have spent a lot of time together over the last year. Because we are only a small team, it was niche, and we all got on very well. We often went for lunch together, spent night outs together and attended other activities together, i.e. ice-skating. Although I did not attend them, there were also 'intern' parties held in the Summer and at Christmas, which provided great opportunities for networking, as all interns across the country were invited along.

I lived at home and commuted daily, so saved money on rent, which was very useful. My commute was about an hour on the tube, so the cost of an annual Oyster card was fairly expensive, but with student discount, it was not extortionate, and my student maintenance loan covered the cost. Socialising is not cheap, but as I live in Greater London, I am used to the cost of living being pretty high!

When you work in London you are guaranteed fantastic night life! There are bars and restaurants on every corner and the tube is so easy to use to get around to other areas, and everything is within about half an hour. London Underground also operates a 'night tube' on certain lines, so if you're lucky enough to live in London then getting home after a night out is easy and it is a much cheaper option that getting a cab. I cannot complain about the numerous 'happy hours' either!

This was something I was pleasantly surprised by - the opportunities to get involved in events and activities outside of my job role. I was able to attend and support events that were not just of a professional/work-related interest, but also personal and career-related interest. The company offers a 'Giveback' scheme, whereby employees are able to take time out of their working week and give their time back to help communities, or support other events, and it's included in your weekly working hours! All interns were encouraged to do this as much as they could as long as they were given manager approval, and that it did not impact their work. This also really supports development! For example, I spent a day landscaping the perimeter of the tiger pen at Marwell Zoo and also had the opportunity to work with my fellow interns to develop an idea that could be used in future inductions, and we then pitched the idea to senior stakeholders.