This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I enjoyed this internship thoroughly for a few reasons. Firstly, the team are so supportive and friendly. Secondly, there are many fun events held throughout the year that you're able to get stuck into. Thirdly, there are several projects outside of the normal work task so every day is different.
The position you have as an intern in Porsche Retail Group is a real full-time job. You are not simply given menial office tasks, instead you have real responsibilities and ownership of your work. For this reason, your team really do appreciate the work you do and treasure you as a colleague.
Due to the independency of the internship positions, managers very much leave you to it if they feel you are capable and willing. If you need help from the managers, they are more than happy to lend you a hand, but they feel that a large part of the internship is attempting things on your own, and if you make a mistake, recovering well. The team is always happy to help as well if ever you get stuck.
One of the best bits about this internship is the variability in workload. Due to this being a finance internship, our work is heavily based around the monthly cycle. At month-end, we are extremely busy, ensuring all accounts are in order for the new month. Occasionally this means staying late! But alternatively, in the middle of the month, it is a far more relaxed atmosphere in the office and you can recuperate from the busy period.
These positions at Porsche Retail Group are real jobs that they would employ a permanent employee to do if they didn't have an internship programme in place. You have your own daily, weekly and monthly tasks with sole ownership. This means you have a real chance to show your managers your full potential and impress them.
This internship year has enabled us to apply the theory we have studied at university and bring a sense of realism to our studies. Going back for final year, we certainly have more motivation for and understanding of our degrees. A year of working and Porsche Retail Group will look fantastic on any job application regardless.
The Company
Generally speaking, the atmosphere was great. People are all very positive and friendly. Sometimes, especially at month-end, the vibe can be stressful and tense, but again this is counteracted by the quieter stages. People are happy to chat to you whenever, making coming to work seem like less of a chore.
The internship programme at Porsche has been standing for a fair few years now, meaning they are very experienced in how to handle new interns. The Human Resources team ensure you make the most out of your internship by emailing you updates on projects/meetings throughout the year. This means you never miss an opportunity.
The team wasn't really helpful in terms of personal development because their main priority was to make sure you can do your job as well as possible. The Human Resources department organise an external company to come in and give a personality analysis which in turn gives you lots of constructive information that you potentially didn't know about yourself.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Company Car
Subsidised/Company Gym
National Travel
International Travel
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
Staff Sales/Staff Shop
Above 25 days holiday
Working from home
Healthcare from home
Healthcare/Dental
Travel loan
Two of the assistant accountants in our team are previous interns from prior years. This shows that the company, if they have available positions, are keen to re-recruit previous employees. Unfortunately, there is no grad-scheme in place meaning the chances of future employment prospects are slim.
The Culture
Before we had started the internship, a Facebook group was made so we could all discuss living arrangements and organise nights out. Straight away when we started, group chats and planes were made. Regularly, we socialise outside of work - ranging from weekday meals to weekend parties. There are around 15 interns in the business so socials are always great fun!
I fortunately lived at home so didn't need to move to the local area. I commuted 100 miles a day so I didn't really get an idea of the cost of living. Judging by what other interns have said, prices are fairly standard for rent and bills etc. Reading is however relatively close to London so some rental areas have higher rates than others.
Reading has lots of great clubs, and the fact that it is a university town means a lot more has been invested in the nightlife. When students are at university, the clubs are nice and busy with a large mix of people. there is a great variety of clubs and bars so you're guaranteed to find somewhere you like to go out.
There are several charity events held by the interns throughout the year which are fun to volunteer at. It is a great way of mixing up your days, and a great way of making friends with people you otherwise wouldn't have met. These also look great on your CV when applying for other future positions!
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Accounting
International
June 2018