Human Resources Internship Review

The work and placement I completed as a whole were really beneficial to me in terms of developing employability skills, putting my degree studies into context and learning about what life might be like after graduation.

I got on really well and made good working relationships with my manager and colleagues. I felt valued, they included me as part of the team and we got on together really well. I was given the opportunity to go on working visits with them and also took part in office social activities.

I had regular weekly meetings with my manager and then a more comprehensive mid placement review. They were always available via email and gave honest feedback and development pointers which helped me to get the most out of my placement. I felt like the work I had done, genuinely added value to the department.

The work tended to vary depending on what stage of my placement I was at. While doing research I was less busy when waiting for information to come back to me, but then when I relieved the information the workload increased.

I was given one major project to do and then when I expressed an interest in another area was allowed to take this on too. I also took a really active role in wider activities run by the Graduate team with other placement students.

There was no doubt that this placement has set me up really well for the final year of my degree. I have developed valuable organisational, time management and project management skills. I have also developed employability skills which are a very useful addition to my CV. The placement also helped me to gain an insight into what life is really like in HR.

It depended on where people were working - with some major projects going through and my department being spread across the country sometimes not many people were in - but that is something you face when working in an organisation. When they were all in it was good fun.

The organisation by the central graduate team was excellent. They were always available to answer queries. The notification of where I as going to be based and what I was doing did come very late on and close to the start of the placement though. I was told the job, but not provided with location or placement details template - I had to ask for these.

I had the opportunity to do professional presentation training to present in from of an audience of 50-60 people. The PDP provided was also structured so I could further my personal development. Plenty of opportunities were provided within my department and the wider placement, which I took up for example, charity challenge, learning visits etc.

I have already secured a graduate job with them for September 2012.

All placement students living in Uxbridge got on really well, we did things in the evenings and events where we were altogether were good.

Very low as accommodation was paid for.

The university had good bars for a drink in the evening. I didn't go out into Uxbridge at weekends, I tended to visit family and friends. On our last night we did have a really good time on a boat party up the Thames!

There was always something going on!