Data Visualisation Analyst Review

I greatly enjoyed my internship at Centrica. From the first day I was made to feel very welcome, meeting with my fellow interns, and those on the current graduate scheme, on induction day. The atmosphere in the office is so friendly and laid back, and the free accommodation provided at Royal Holloway was just a short commute away. The work was interesting and there are many opportunities to try new things, like visiting a call centre or volunteering at race events.

I felt that I was very well valued by my colleagues, being given an exciting project with the benefits to the business made very clear to me. Various managers took time out to meet me and explain their role in the business, making me feel like a valued part of the team right from the start. Colleagues made an effort to invite me to social events such as 5-a-side football and drinks evenings.

I was given excellent support by my managers. On the first day my manager devoted a great deal of time to introducing me to the business and the kind of tasks my work would involve. While he was often away from the office, he scheduled a call with me each morning to discuss my achievements, questions, and tasks for the coming day, and encouraged me to speak to him any time if I needed help.

I was reasonably busy on a daily basis, with project work taking up a lot of my time, and the rest of the time spent making introductions with managers and colleagues, and attending various events over the ten weeks such as the graduate forum, team-building at Brunel University, volunteering, and the charity project. Occasionally there were times when I had little to do, but on these occasions I most often found something productive to be getting on with.

I was given a good amount of responsibility during my placement, developing the first phase of an important data application, a genuine value-added piece of work which is rare for a ten-week placement. I felt that I was encouraged to seize responsibility at every opportunity, and was trusted with working independently to meet my goals.

The time management and communication skills that I have developed would be very beneficial for degree studies; as I have graduated I will be taking these skills forward in my career. The data visualisation training will be invaluable in the career I wish to pursue, as well as the presentation training which I received.

The atmosphere was very positive and welcoming, with a collaborative feel where you can sit anywhere and talk to anyone. No ties or blazers are required to be worn, so I always felt very comfortable, and on Fridays everybody wears casual attire. Everybody is passionate and about their work and genuinely cares about the customers and each other, with help always forthcoming if asked for.

The internship was very well set up, with detailed correspondence throughout the application stage, feedback after interviews and assessment centres, and fast notification of the success of my application. Weekly email updates from the graduate team kept me informed of upcoming events and deadlines, with contact details for further advice if needed. Free accommodation was provided for all interns which was very well organised and developed a strong community feel.

The company paid for a development day at Brunel University, completing team-building tasks including some rock-climbing. The company also invested in presentation training for all interns in preparation for our end of placement presentations. We were able to take volunteering days, days out with engineers, and visits to call centres to further our knowledge of the business.

Future employment prospects are very appealing within Centrica, with a brilliant graduate scheme which I am applying for. There are many different streams which you can apply to, with the possibility of applying for the graduate scheme in a different team to the one in which you did the placement. After the graduate scheme there is a high possibility of moving on to a permanent role in the business.

Yes, there was a very good social scene among the fellow placement students. As we were all living in halls at nearby Royal Holloway College, in flats of eight, we bonded quickly and socialised often. There was a group on social media for the placement students, and this became a real community and support network, with frequent social events including bowling, meals out, and drinks nights.

The cost of living was low as accommodation was provided for us. In general the area is reasonably priced considering its proximity to London. Food and drink is generally not too expensive although nights out can be very pricey. Travel in and out of the city is not too expensive.

There was not much nightlife in the area that I worked. There are a couple of clubs in Windsor which we ventured to occasionally, but this is an expensive option with taxis costing around £30 each way, and expensive entry and drinks prices. The more usual option was the nearby Turtle Bay in Staines, with decently priced cocktails and only a £10 taxi ride away. It is possible to get in to Richmond or central London but it is too far to do regularly.

Yes there were many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. I played football with colleagues every Wednesday evening, and there were lots of sports facilities on campus such as tennis courts, gym, hockey pitches etc. In our charity project we got the chance to spend time outside of work fundraising and volunteering.