Intern PT-36 Apprentice Training Review

I really enjoyed my placement at MINI UK in Oxford. I had a very nice department and the jobs I had were very diverse. Sometimes I got some creative tasks and other days I had tasks, that dealt with numbers and computer works. I was never bored and I also had the chance to experience some things despite from my own department.

I felt very valued by my colleagues. They always told me that I am an important member of the team. They integrated me very well in their team and I know that I will really miss my colleagues. I could always ask them for every help that I needed and they always supported me, whereever they could. I could not imagine any better colleagues.

The support and guidance I experienced was very good. Although my manager wasn't always around, I could always contact him with every question I had. In the start of my internship, he explained to me very well, what my tasks and projects were, but I could also always ask him in between and got some more help and guidance.

I was quite busy in my internship. Of course, that was a little bit depending on the week, but in general I can say, that I was busy. I had a big project to work on and I also had some day to day tasks, that were urgent and had to be completed. In the first weeks I was not so busy, but that was very good, because I had enough time, to get to know everything and everyone.

I was given quite a lot of responsibility during my internship. I had two projects, I had to manage on my own and made my own decisions about these projects. Further more, I had to do several presentations in front of some senior managers, which I prepared on my own.

I am quite sure, I learned a lot of things in my internship, which I am able to use in my studies and my further job. For example I learned quite a lot about the processes in an international big company. Furthermore I improofed my communication and presentation skills quite a lot, which helps me especially for being a teacher. Moreover I improofed my english, which will always help me.

The atmosphere in my office was always great. My colleagues were always very helpful and supportive. There was always a time of the day, where you could have some fun and tell some jokes, but there was also a time, where it was quite and you had the chance to progress with your tasks.

The set up of my internship was organised very well. Although it was quite spontanously, I recieved my contract 2 weeks after I was offered the job. When I arrived, everything was set up for me. I had an IT account, my own laptop and there was also preparen and induction package for me, which contained a map of the plant, the most important hints and tips and a workwear ordering form.

There was not really a lot of training, I could take part in, unless one workshop, where I learned about new methods or working and agile working groups. But I had the chance, to have a look at the teaching within the apprentice school and also got the chance, to prepare and manage my own lesson, which was very helpful for me as a future teacher.

If I am honest, I didn't really care about the future employment prospects, because my plan is to become a teacher in germany. I would maybe be interested in being an apprentice trainer for some years in a company, but I am not really interested in a long term contract.

The social scene whithin the interns of BMW was great. There were approximatly 70 interns at the time, when I was at BMW. We met every thursday and went out for drinks in a pub. We also met for other activities, like paintball, carting and bowling. Sometimes we went out for a club night at the weekend and we also met for lunch quite often.

The costs of living are quite high in Oxford. That is the reason, why you nearly need all of your payment for food and accomodation. But there are some quite cheap pubs, which you can go to, so socialising costs aren't to high. Also some activities, like cinema or bowling aren't to expensive, so socialising is still possible, if you are able to get any financial support from home.

The nightlife in Oxford is really good. There are several culbs, but they can be quite expensive. Because Oxford is a city of students, there are partys nearly every night, you can go to. If you do not like clubs, you can also go to pubs, but it is quite likely, that they close really early.

There are quite a few opportunities to get involven in. For example there is an on side gym, which is very cheap and you do not have to make a contract for a lot of months, but can cancel it every month. Moreover you can rent cars for the weekends. This is free, because you are testing them for the company, but you have to do a minimum mileage, which is quite high.