Intern Review

I can say with complete honesty that I enjoyed every minute of my time with Savills. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and I was really made to feel a part of every team I was in. I have learnt so much more about the commercial property sector from industrial units to offices which will set me in good stead in the future. I am hopeful that this placement will place me in a advantageous position on my graduate scheme applications and Savills will be the top of my list for a return. The only slight negative is that I would have enjoyed slightly more organised social events with fellow interns and graduates as that is a huge part of the experience.

I was fortunate to rotate around 4 individual teams and in each and every one I was made to feel heavily involved in the work that was on-going. This involved a nice spread of office based tasks as well as inspections and site visits out of the office. As a result the work was varied and interesting throughout. I feel that I was able to help my colleagues when it was required and hopefully help to ease their own work load, which is absolutely what I would like and expect.

I feel that for the duration of my placement I have been well supported. Before I arrived I was given a mentor as appoint of contact and I feel that I can go and chat to her about any issues that might arise. Everything appeared to be well structured and organised which made me feel comfortable in the office. In each of the individual teams I felt like I could ask for advice and ask questions when I didn't understand something which has been vital for me in making the most of my experience.

For most of my placement I have felt busy and have consistently been given tasks to get on with. In addition, I was given an individual project to get on with alongside my work so that any lulls in the workload could still be adequately filled. The only minor criticism I have is that during my first week in the industrial team, they were experiencing a relatively quiet period and there were times when I had to go searching for work, however I think that is all part of the learning experience.

I feel that I was given some responsibility but perhaps not as much as I could have been given. I was often left to work independently on tasks which was daunting at first, but ultimately rewarding. However, I did sometimes feel that I was being given some 'filler' jobs when perhaps I could have done more. Some of that responsibility probably lies on my own shoulders to go and search for more responsibility

I have learnt so much on this placement that I know is going to be incredibly useful next year when I complete my degree. I have certainly developed my communication skills both with face to face interactions in the office but also over the telephone talking both internal and external calls. Additionally, I have enhanced my professional report writing skills. This is a transferable skill that will be useful whatever firm I join but it is important to get to grips with the writing style used by Savills to maintain a professional finish. Finally, the general knowledge that I have gained about the processes of Development, Agency, Planning and Valuation have been extremely insightful. They have made me begin to think about where I might focus my own skills moving forwards and what will be most suitable to me. Ultimately, the experience and knowledge gained has made me certain that I am pursing the correct career option and that will provide massive motivation moving into next year.

The general feeling in the office was friendly and welcoming whilst also being very professional. I felt that I could have a laugh and a joke in and around the office which is vital for the overall enjoyment. The office was slightly larger than I have experienced in the past however, I feel that I managed to speak to most people, even the more senior members of staff and that is a fantastic boost for confidence.

The organisation was second to none. Before I had even arrived at the placement I was given timetables and information about what was expected of me so I felt very prepared on day one. We were given a checklist of items needed on day one and this was like a walkthrough of our time which really helps to get over the early nerves.

I always felt that the placement was like one big showcase of my abilities and for me that is exactly what I wanted it to be. I had the opportunity to work with graduates and directors which means you see a huge variety of work and get to know everyone. I personally made a big effort to focus on the social aspect as that networking is the most important factor in getting your name and face recognised in the future.

I will certainly be applying for a future role at savills as part of the graduate team. From all of the current graduates I have heard only positive things about the firm and how they are treated which makes me determined to follow the same pathway. I am hopeful that the summer scheme will place me at an advantage to some candidates and that come September 2019 I am successfully working at Savills.

yes. We were able to go to drinking events that were organised by the graduates. at these events we were able to get access to free drinks and food which was a lovely added bonus. From what I have heard about the Savills London internship programme, they are able to attend more events as a group and I think personally there could have been a little more of that to improve in the networking aspect .

The cost of living is very affordable in Manchester. I already had access to a home nearby and the bus cost £8 weekly from Fallowfield. There was the odd occasion that I would spend money on lunches but often no more than £5 which is well within my means. With many of the events, drinks were provided which helped to save money.

Manchester really has a bustling nightlife with a wide array of bars and clubs on offer. The Savills team have a few bars that they often use and they were very pleasant to go to. I had fun at all the events I attended which ultimately is the main thing.

There was an opportunity to get involved in the JLL urban challenge which was basically a large obstacle course and 6k run. I didn't get involved in this particular event as I took one of my annual leave days however, many of the other placement candidates went as said how enjoyable the day was.