Management Trainee Summer Intern Review

I really enjoyed my internship at Enterprise, it was really engaging, kept me busy and everyday was a productive day. The work is really varied so you are never bored and can mix up what you do from day to day. You are also able to drive a large variety of cars which is always good fun and being out on the road breaks the days up massively.

My colleagues all made me feel very valued. Those that I worked alongside in branch never made me feel less like part of the team because I was only a temporary member of staff. They taught me several aspects of the business which they wouldn't normally teach a 3-month intern which made me feel like a helpful and worthwhile addition to the team. The initial 12 week placement was also able to be extended so I have managed to remain at the branch for 18 weeks and work towards the milestones needed to be promoted for when I return after graduating next year.

The management within branch were very supportive, often asking if there was anything I needed further support or guidance with and never made me feel like a numpty no matter how basic my question was. The management of the internship felt a little less supported compared to year long placements or permanent members of staff which sometimes led me to think if I was as valued as other members of staff which in turn made the desire to return to Enterprise slightly less appealing.

VERY! There is so much to do in the branch you will never be bored. There is always a choice of things that could be done and you just have to prioritise and spread your time between them. There is a variety of work both in and out the office, some making contact with customers, dealerships, body-shops or corporate accounts meaning each interaction is different. There are also admin sides of the role which can see you chasing accounts that aren't paying bills which gives a great sense of achievement when it is complete. If anything, sometimes it was hard to do everything that was expected and needed to be completed and there were some very long days, however I would always prefer this than having nothing to do whereby the days would just drag.

There is as much responsibility as you want there to be, you are expected to work on your own initiative and you need to be able to deal with problems within the branch. However, there is lots of support available and always somebody to hand over to if you are not sure what to do.

The role has taught me a lot about working in a professional workplace and definitely enhanced my ability to multi-task which will help me balance deadlines and lectures in my final year at university. It has also helped prepare me for the world of work when I graduate and go into full-time employment.

The atmosphere in the office was always very positive. We have many moments of laughter with a bubbly feeling where nobody dreads coming to work. Everybody gets on really well together and have the usual jokes between different members of staff to make the day go quickly. There are lots of people in the office but it honestly feels like our own little family as we spend so much flipping time together! Great atmosphere overall.

There was a very extensive interview process which whilst at university 200miles away became a bit tedious travelling to. The organization is well done although there is less training for 3-month interns than other employees. There is also meant to be an exam 3 months into the placement but I had to fight to get a date for this as they didn't seem as interested as I was due to leave, despite me showing great interest in returning when I graduate.

Enterprise clearly invests a lot in permanent employees, they get mentors and other members of staff specifically to support them. They get lunches and other perks which seems like a great structure. For 3-month interns however, very little of that is in place and if you are unsure of something or want to get something done it falls very much on your own shoulders to get the help needed.

I would be very interested in future employment prospects as there seems to be a quick and clear progression strategy which appeals to me. There always seems to be good promotion opportunities and the availability to move around the country a lot too. Plus, everybody is very easy to get on with which is always a bonus.

There were a couple of events whilst I've been on placement. The first was a farewell afternoon which included ghetto golf followed by food which combined 12month interns with 3month interns. The second was an area night out, which was a Saturday night out in Worcester. This allowed me to meet and introduce myself to other people working in the surrounding areas of Enterprise. However both events were towards the end of my internship so would have been nicer and slightly more helpful if they were slightly earlier on.

I lived at home whilst on this placement. However I was put in a location which public transport was not an option to get there on time so I had to buy and run a car in order to be able to accept the placement. Something I didn't mind doing, I was just lucky to be in a position where I could afford to (particularly as a student!).

I only came to and from work in the area as I was staying at home. Additionally, there are so many hours involved with the placement each week that I wouldn't have wanted to go our very often at all even if I was living in the area to be honest.

There were a couple that popped up, such as the area night out as mentioned previously and charity walks and events available to take part in. All were optional but there were multiple to chose from including a cycle ride with two distances to chose from meant it appealed to a larger range of riders.