EMEA Regional Finance Analyst Review

Thoroughly enjoyed my placement year. The 6 week handover period was especially useful as I was able to understand my job role and adapt easily into the working life. It made it easier to transition into the team and take on new roles and responsibilities throughout the year. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a year long industrial placement.

The team were very welcoming throughout the placement year. They were always happy to help whenever I had any queries even if they weren't work related. We participated and organised various team activities which really helped us bond. We had regular staff meetings which provided us with a safe environment to discuss if we needed help or to find out about new projects which may be available. Overall my colleagues made me feel like part of the team.

My manager scheduled regular 1:1 meetings with me every week to catch up on how I was doing and to give me the opportunity to bring up anything that has been worrying me in the week. He was very helpful at pointing me in the right dirction to who can solve my problems and he always had my best interest at heart. He always made time for our meetings and gave me the support I required.

On a daily basis I was fairly busy. I always had work to do however I was never overwhelmed. When my workload was light, I was given plenty of opportunities to get involved with new projects and when I was struggling with the workload the team were very good at helping me prioritise.

The great thing about Intel is that you are treated like a full time employer. You are given tasks and responsibilities which are at the same level or above than the full time employees. You are also given credit to the work that you produce so you are able to make your name known in the company and get recognized based on your own achievements.

I have developed many skills whilst being on placement such as general IT skills to time management skills. The excel skills that I have learned will not only make my life a lot easier back at University but also help me in my career as a chartered accountant. I have also improved my prioritisation skills and how I present to a wider audience. Placement has significantly improved my confidence and has given me the ability to understand what career path I want to work towards in the future.

The office atmosphere was quiet as people were working or in meetings. The canteen at lunch is always lively as that was a chance for everyone to catch up and talk about how their days were going. There were also various activities taking place throughout the year which made the office a lot more lively.

The work placement was organised very well. The 6 week handover period was especially beneficial as it gave all interns the opportunity to get settled into the work place easily. I attended multiple assessment centers for other companies and they didn't have the same opportunities set up for their interns which made Intel stand out for me.

The 6 week handover was excellent training as you worked side by side with your current intern and learned everything you needed to know about the company, your job and the team. Excel training was also offered throughout the year and training on programs such as power bi. They also offered multiple finance training courses throughout the placement on terminology.

The team always say that there are opportunities to develop within the department. They never turn you away straight away. If there are jobs available and you have made a good enough impression throughout the year then they will go out of their way to offer you jobs or development opportunities.

The intern committee is one of the best things about Intel. There are over 40 interns on the Swindon site and this really bring along a sense of community. Everyone is going through the same things as you are and it feels like one big family. I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming friends with all the interns and I know I will keep in touch in the future

The Swindon area was quite cheap. Rent is roughly £200-£350 a month and there were multiple grocery shops near by including Aldi, co op, Morrison's etc. It was not expensive to live and taxi's were reasonable. There were also great transport links in the area which made it easy to get around.

There is one main club that all the interns go to on Thursday nights as this is a tradition however there are multiple bars and restaurants in the Old Town area which is where most of the interns lived. Shops stayed open until around 11 each night and on weekends there was a more lively night life.

There were loads of opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. The intern community organised multiple events to go on trips such as Thorpe park. We also went for a weekend away and bonded as a group outside of work. They also help us get involved with university career fairs to help employ the next lot of interns.