HR Intern Review

I really enjoyed my placement year at Eaton. The learning experience is fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone, as well as learning on the job, the business provides you with countless hours of training with an external provider in areas such as presentation skills, communication skills and time management. I was given exposure to the areas I wanted to learn and the business went out of its way to give me exposure to areas I would not normally see in my role such as legal compliance. The people I worked with were the best and I will remember them forever, I have made amazing relationships and will definitely stay in touch. I had the opportunity to work with some of the best professionals in their field and grew immensely as a result. Everybody in the business is so genuine and really does want to see you achieve and go far.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues. From day one, I was welcome into the business by all with open arms. All employees at my site recognise the contribution interns make during their placement year and appreciate this. My day to day work and the projects I was involved in had a measurable impact on the business which I was always recognised and thanked for.

I could not of asked for a more supportive manager to guide me during my time with Eaton. My manager shaped my whole placement year and made it the most valuable experience. My manager has gone above and beyond to ensure I have had the widest range of exposure possible during my placement; she has given me more opportunities than I ever expected and has supported me to succeed through every single one. My manager was not only a mentor to me, but became a role model who I look up to and am enthused by; she has influenced my attitude massively and my career choices on-going. I honestly cannot thank her enough for her contribution to my learning.

I was definitely busy. My workload was extremely varied and interesting, but due to the fast pace of our department, was constantly growing. Although at times I felt overwhelmed by my workload , I always managed it. The workload was challenging yet realistic and has prepared me for a corporate role in the real world. My prioritisation and time management skills have massively improved as a result of this.

I was given an immense amount of responsibility throughout my placement year. As I grew and became more confident I was given more and more responsibility to help me learn as much as possible and to ensure I got the best possible exposure to the world of HR. My manager empowered me to lead on projects and to own them, she fully put her trust in me and allowed me to act as an autonomous individual.

I cannot describe to the full extent how much my placement year has, and will continue to benefit me. I have learnt more HR knowledge during my placement year at Eaton, than I have learnt from two years of university. I already know that I will be able to relate to my studies on a different level following my placement, and don’t doubt my academic performance will be greatly enhanced as a result. I have learnt more skills than I can list and have hugely developed those that I already possessed. I have gained and developed my skills more than I thought possible, so much so, that I truly believe I will have a competitive edge when it comes to seeking graduate positions on the market.

I had the unique opportunity to work from 3 sites during my internship. The atmosphere at all 3 sites was good, and each site had something unique to offer. Employee morale is strong throughout the business and everyone pulls together to make sure end goals are achieved. At my main site, I enjoyed the ‘office life’ – the people you work with do become like a work family and everyone looks out for you.

From my experience, I would say the internship is set up really well. Eaton have an Intern Programme Manager who’s whole job revolves around making sure we have good and worthwhile internships. Having one person specifically dedicated to looking after all the interns means you really do get the attention you need. As well as the day to day aspect of the job which your manager determines with your input , training events are held by the programme manager and an external provider. These events involve all interns from across the country- they allow us to network, enhance our skills, and to have some well-earned fun after training!

The company massively invested in me. All interns, as I've mentioned, receive great training from an external provider to enhance their skill sets. I also went to training events with my manager specific to HR related topics which I learnt loads from and really enjoyed. Interns also have access to EatonUni, an online portal which provides access to a whole load of courses on various subjects which you can chose to take part in when you have spare time.

I would definitely seek future employment at Eaton. I’m not sure right now what graduate opportunities may present themselves in terms of my chosen function of HR, but I would be open to exploring them all. From my experience I know that grads at Eaton all have the opportunity to travel and see some of our other sites globally and this really appeals to me.

I was in a lucky position in terms of my location during my placement year – I could easily commute between two of my sites for nights out or social events. One of my sites had a way better social scene and made an effort to socialise much more than my other, because they lived together I think. So I would definitely recommend living with other interns if you get the chance. However, all the interns were extremely friendly and we always has a laugh when we were together.

I lived at home during my placement year as I was within a commutable distance. Biggest pro of this was managing to save up some money! However, I knew interns who were renting a place for the year and they seemed to be paying a reasonable amount , much like what you would be paying to live in a student house (which many of them did too).

Not great unfortunately. My main site is quite remote and their isn’t much to do in the area but I knew this before I accepted the placement so it was what I was expecting. The interns from my site and myself did go out occasionally though which was fun. I typically went out with the interns from another site for big nights out as they lived closer to a main city (and it only took me 40 minutes in the car to get to them), I had loads of fun with them made some great friendships.

The opportunities to get involved outside of work are definitely there if you want to get involved, but you won’t be pushed to do so if it isn’t your thing. During my time at Eaton, staff BBQ’s have been held along with numerous staff gathering for things like leaving do’s and birthdays. The Christmas party was particularly fun… and as a bonus you get a few drink tokens ;)