MD Office Associate Review

Working for SAP for a year has solidified by ambition to go into a Global Business, and moreover, a software company like SAP. The year has been challenging, but mainly because my responsibilities have been on par with those of a full time (and quite high up) employee - so I would expect challenges along with the achievements.

Practically every employee that I have worked with wants to hear more about what I have done before, what I have achieved so far and if there is anything I would like to get involved with that they can give me an insight into. The only reason that this isn't a full 10, is because a lot of my work has been credited by my manager - which I would expect when I work for him, however, he does not value this contribution and this has been hard over the year - but please note this is a one person experience. In total, managers are supportive, push us and value our contribution immensely.

SAP has a brilliant team called the Future Team, and they quite honestly are the backbone of every good experience and successful SAP graduate. They coach, guide and step in whenever needed to make sure that we both feel supported, as well as challenged. I have personally reached out to many of those in the management team across SAP to have one on one meetings, and this has been great for getting guidance and areas of focus for the future.

Quite honestly, this placement has been a year of multitasking and keeping plates spinning on a daily, weekly and monthly basis - and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I strove for these types of days and am glad that SAP delivered. It not only has meant that every day has been varied and that I have developed beyond belief this year, but also means that going back to University I will be more productive, because I can reflect back at how much I have done this year - every day! Please note - this is not the same for everyone. You can definitely choose how busy you want to be. Despite my always staying late, this was very much my choice as I took on more work. There have been countless of successful interns with job offers who managed to work 9 - 5 with time to socialise and relax, which just goes to show the culture at SAP.

A lot - no two ways about it that the interns at SAP are the backbone of the business - definitely in the UKI. Personally, I have been privileged to host and organise some very high profile colleagues and customers events, and other interns have been preparing briefings, documents and legal papers for our customers and partners. Throughout the year, projects have been handled and run by me and I know that I was given an excess amount of responsibility, but because of that, I know I can accomplish the same in the future.

I can now confirm that I want to come back into the same / similar organisation, and believe my Psychology degree gave me a good foundation for approaching SAP, and SAP has similarly given me skills to take back to University: Concise - My emails needed to be concise, and so will my coursework need to be. Focused - Having laser point focus on each task as I do it. Resilience - Very needed in the future! Confidence - not in myself, but in taking higher roles.

It is great because there are so many other graduates to socialise and lean on. There is a gym and free canteen that gives even more networking opportunities and encourages you to get up from your desk and think about your health and general well-being. It is supportive if you want to work harder and even more so when you are slightly struggling and need a little guidance. There are lots of laughs and when it is the most stressful, there are drinks and pats on the back to push you through. Only thing is that there is an air of competitiveness within some areas / people. There is an impression that everyone is very much focused on their own progression - obviously present in every company, just feels very overt at SAP at times.

The Futures Team, which I mentioned earlier as the group organising our placements, is fully functioning and there every step of the way during our internship. They organised social impact presentations, learning, development, volunteering and so much more. If there was anything else that we might want, they provided the extra area.

There was mandatory training and development which gave everyone a foundation. In addition to that, they added training when requested and facilitated further development opportunities. When we have large customer and partner events, interns are given the opportunity to be a part of it and in most cases, run large aspects of these events. We have an online portal with immense training courses and classes that we can either dial into or attend in person.

The biggest contribution that a placement with SAP gives us towards a future job is through the development they give us and having SAP on our C.V. It is a down side to the placement as there are not clear graduate roles to come back into, however, there have been a lot of people who have half time jobs offered for next year. But I feel that it is far more important to have the amount of exposure, challenges and opportunities that we have had at SAP, rather than going into a position that might have a job for me at the end.

There was definitely always something social to do, whether you wanted to or not, that is up to the individual interns. I chose not to go to as many of the nights out or drinks after work, but always felt welcomed if I wanted to and regularly met for lunch and a coffee with people at work.

I lived in both Whitton and Hounslow, which are the cheaper areas around the Feltham office. The places I lived were not particularly cheap, but I know that others around my area had cheaper places. It is in London, so either way the travel, food and general living costs are more than the typical Universities around the country.

Like I mentioned above, I didn't go to any of the nightclubs. However, I know that those who did had to travel to central and make a big night of it - they did do this on a regular basis. Feltham is not a party / socialising place - not even for dinner!

There was always one event or another that was being run and that we could ask to be involved in - especially with volunteering and being involved with partner and customer roles. It was more about just having to ask to go, and then being welcomed with opened arms. My role had a lot of events and so was lucky to go to a lot of different things over the year.