Cancer Research UK Intern Review

I really enjoyed it. The work was interesting and, at least in my role, there was quite a lot of scope to choose what I focussed on. The workload was very manageable (I only worked 3 days in a week), which meant that it wasn't a stressful experience at all. It's a really friendly and supportive environment, and it was great being round so many other interns.

I felt really valued by my colleagues - they were all so friendly and happy to answer any questions that I had. Because I was there for three months, I felt really comfortable around them by the end. They were also really helpful in putting me in touch with other people I might want to talk to within the organisation - it felt like my personal development was a priority.

I was given a lot of support. I had weekly meetings with my line manager where we reviewed my tasks for the week ahead, and she always gave me a very clear sense of direction. If I had any questions she was more than happy to help. She also encouraged me to give time to personal development, which was really great.

It varied - sometimes I could be very busy, with a lot of meetings and a long to-do list, and on other days I didn't have too much to do, although I think this would vary depending on your role (because I was part of a smaller team and my project wasn't at all time-pressured, I generally didn't feel too busy).

I wasn't given that much responsibility - at no point did I feel like any mistakes I might make could have a real impact. Generally I was working within a team, so other people were reviewing my work. However, I do feel like the things that I did were useful and relevant, and that my ideas were listened to.

The amount of support we were given with our personal development was amazing - we were provided with specific workshops on employability skills (including CV advice and interview skills), and we were able to attend any of the training sessions that were going on within the organisation. I think generally the skills I developed will definitely make me more employable.

The atmosphere was great. It felt very relaxed - if you needed to come in slightly later they were flexible with working hours, and the dress code was pretty casual. People were quite focussed when working, but there were lots of tea break opportunities and everyone was so friendly, so it never felt tense.

It was so well organised! The application process was very well-organised and easy to follow, and we had an induction day which meant that at no point was it unclear what we were meant to be doing. There were regular workshops organised for us, and a placement review system which ran throughout the internship, so any issues that came up were flagged immediately.

There were personal development workshops organised specifically for the interns throughout the placement (on CV skills etc). Everyone who worked at CRUK was also really happy to talk to you if you had any development related questions. Interns were able to apply for a mentor to help them with their personal development - my mentor was so helpful, and it felt like a great opportunity.

I'm not too sure yet, but the organisation was great at highlighting potential opportunities with CRUK and providing information about recruitment (particularly into the Grad Scheme), and the placement was great for creating a network that I'm sure would be useful if I did want to work within the organisation at a later date.

Yes - all the interns had lunch together on most days, and went for after-work drinks occasionally.

The main office is in London, so expensive.

N/A

A fair amount - there were yoga classes on the roof of the office which were fun, and the interns organised a pub quiz. As it's a charity, there were also lots of opportunities to volunteer at charity events. Volunteering was a really nice way to meet other people involved in Cancer Research UK and was a good way to see another element of what the charity does.