Finance Intern Review

I really enjoyed my internship as you were exposed to real life work experience and I wasn't just given boring "Intern" tasks. I was able to make a large change within the business and this is something that they are going to use for the foreseeable future which has allowed me to leave my mark.

I felt very valued by my colleagues as they were always involving me in tasks and asking for my input. They made me feel very involved in things as they saw my willingness to learn and they gave me that opportunity to go in head first. Being an intern at GE you are treated as if you were a full time employee which is great to get involved in work but may also be difficult when you are trying to take a step back and learn.

My manager and supervisors always made sure that I was not overworked but that I had enough work to keep me busy. I built up the trust very quickly which meant that I was left to us my initiative which is something I really valued from my placement. I feared being micromanaged and not being left alone but this was not the case, they were very supportive if you needed it but then trusted you to complete your own tasks.

I would say that I was busy enough that I had work to do throughout the whole day but not too busy that I felt like I was drowning. As I work in finance, the periods around month end and quarter end were much busier but nothing that I could not handle. As I mentioned, my manager made sure I was happy with the work I was given and that I did not feel like it was too much.

I was given a lot of responsibility and I felt like a real part of the team. It was great to be trusted enough to take on tasks that were very important and had tight deadlines, it shows how much GE value their interns and the work that they do.

Whilst working I have also had to complete reports for university and the results that I have achieved on these reports are the highest I have ever received. This shows how much my written communication has developed on my placement and I can take this back to university with me for my final year coursework and exams. I also have a lot more business knowledge that I can apply to my studies and that I can take into the real world with me after I graduate which I would not have had if I didn't take a placement year.

Majority of the time the atmosphere was very friendly and hardworking. Being in such a small office it was sometimes difficult when someone was having a bad day as it would be spread throughout the room but that was only on very rare occasions, the rest of the time it was great.

I would say that the placement was very well organised but for my role in particular you have to be very good at using your initiative as that is how majority of your work is found. You have set reports that you must complete but apart from that you have to find projects that you would think will better the business.

As I feel like I made a good impression with my manager and the other employees they invested a lot of time into me and they will support me through my graduate scheme applications. They have made sure to have meetings with every other Friday to ensure that we are tracking my development and that I am getting what I want from the role.

They offer a graduate scheme that is highly competitive but if you have had a good internship with GE then you are considered above other applicants. They are also very known for taking on interns in full time positions as they have the knowledge on the business but this all depends on what vacancies become available.

The friendships that I have made with other interns are life long friendships. I was so lucky that there was only a small group in the GE business that I worked in and we all formed a strong bond. This was helped with the monthly intern calls that were held with all UK GE Interns that allowed you to catch up and get involved in events that were happening across the UK.

I work for GE Aviation in Cheltenham and I was a student in Leeds so the cost definitely increased moving down south. I would say that I am paid enough to make up for the cost of living so it wasn't a struggle to go out and have a good time.

The nightlife was okay but again as I came from living in Leeds the vibe was a lot different but as I was with such a great group of friends it made the nights out so much fun. One thing I would recommend before getting a placement is research the areas that you are applying for and see if you will enjoy it.

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in outside of work. I joined a rugby team and made such amazing friends through that, I also joined a gym and went to fitness classes where I have met new friends too. The opportunities are always there if you are looking for them.