Summer Scheme Intern Review

The internship was very interesting, I helped with a variety of tasks both in and out of the office. It gave me the professional experience I was look for to improve my employability and I have a deeper understanding the administrative processes of the rural sector, those were the two main things I had in mind when applying.

I came into the office environment with no experience so I knew I wasn't an invaluable resource. I think I have taken my chances to contribute to the team, I felt like they found me useful and didn't object to having me around. I probably could have made more cups of coffee.

Over the course of my internship I shadowed my mentor so he was always available to me when I needed him to be. His experience really showed through his understanding of the tasks he asked me to perform and ability to give me immediate advice when I needed it.

I was usually busy in the office and on site visits, sometimes there were meetings that it would not have been appropriate for an intern to attend so I was occasionally left alone in the office but I nearly always had letters to draft or people to chase up.

I feel like I was given a good amount of responsibility considering my position. From day one I was looking over & drafting documents, going on site visits and taking notes, towards the end of the internship I had the chance to get in contact with a few clients to arrange meetings so I think I had a good chance to contribute to the team.

I think this will be invaluable experience, I have worked in the rural sector but I have never experienced the administrative side before. I'm sure that the knowledge about the processes and client interaction I have gained will serve me well in the future.

The office is a very professional environment, everyone was nice and helpful. There were a couple of social events that helped me settle in and kept it light throughout the month.

The application process was over complicated but the actual internship has been well run. I have not been left hanging or felt like a 5th wheel at any point.

Savills have offered online training sessions over the course of the month and my mentor has been really good at taking time out to explain things to me as and when required. They've given me an experience that I can use as a platform for my own professional development and they occasionally bought me lunch.

I'm not 100% on the path to a graduate position, I've been told that my degree makes me ineligible for a Job in the rural department without a conversion or a masters so I will probably have to look elsewhere for graduate employment.

There was one other intern in the office, she was doing her internship with a different department so our paths never really crossed. We've had lunch with a handful of others from our office a couple of times but I don't think we've taken much notice of one another.

I managed to get a place to stay for free and I know a few people from uni that live here. Getting here was expensive and I believe the cost of living is higher than it is at home.

I stayed in a town outside the city, I never really went for a proper night out in Exeter. I noticed pints are expensive here.

There was one office sports event and my friends who live locally showed me plenty things to do.