Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my month experience, which has reconsolidated my desire and hunger to succeed in the property industry. The element i enjoyed the most was the fact that I could go up to anybody, no matter how high or low ranked they are in the firm, everybody had the time of day for me and genuinely tried to help me.

Within the first week I already felt so conformable with my team and I feel that the feelings were reciprocated. I felt like I was part of the team very quickly as on my 4th day we had a team meeting regarding a portfolio where I offered my opinion on values, which I was pleasantly surprised with my teams positive response. In my opinion your team cant respect/value you if you have nothing to offer so it was my mission every day to show to my team that I had something to offer and as a result I believe that they valued me.

My line manager was really helpful and supportive of me. He told me to not feel tied down to my desk and for me to essentially make the most of my experience in whatever way that was. This gave me the freedom to make the most of my time by speaking to as many people as i could. Not only this but he gave me some really lovely feedback as well as other members of my team, so for this I am incredibly grateful.

On the whole was given a good amount of work that was not too much but also not enough to stimulate me. It was only at times that I was going around the room asking if anybody else had some work for me to do, which I expected anyway.

I feel as if for the majority of work that I was completing I was very much in charge, I just always went back to whoever set me the task to check it was all good. This is something I personally love as how can I grow without getting this responsibility. The responsibility I was placed with allowed me to learn so much more. I love being thrown in the deep end and I made my team aware of this to ensure that I was given as much responsibility as I could possibly be allowed.

For me learning how to handle myself during a pitch was such a great lesson. Sean helped me so much and pointed out to me a few things that I tend to do that I didn't even realise. This is something I will never forget and a lesson for life. Also we learnt many new things going on in the Proptec world which was fascination and relevant for myself.

I had a really good rapport with my team and surrounding teams and everybody got on really well, which made it a very pleasant environment to work in, whilst at the same time quite a corporate atmosphere was maintained. Of course there were times for jokes and casual conversations but ultimately we are all here to get work done. I have experienced other much smaller offices where quite frankly the banter does not really stop, but this was a really good balance in-between and one that I enjoyed thoroughly

All the training and extra sessions put on were great, the only thing I would suggest is that a week before each line manager should discuss with HR and give a brief itinerary of what they are getting their intern involved in, I understand this is not actually that practical due to the nature of the business but I feel this would be very beneficial for the interns.

Apart from the pitch training, I don't feel that the firm as a whole invested that much into us as interns. It was more the people that i formed relationships with that invested. However this is something that I am in favour of as it should be up to us how much we can take from the experience and also up to us if our team like us enough to invest into us, this is something that I was aware of and gave thought to every day, to get my teammates to like me enough to want to invest in me more than they otherwise would.

I would like to think I have put myself in a good chance of getting a graduate role by getting good feedback on the internship, whilst also securing a meeting with Kevin Mclean, through meeting Ciaran Bird. Securing a place on the CBRE grad scheme is my absolute priority and I am going to do everything i can to make this happen.

I got on so well with everybody, it was so nice. We went out on many occasions on some rather large Friday nights as well as some lovely lunches and I have stayed in contact with many people.

Going out for lunch everyday did prove rather expensive so I tried to find cheap alternatives, and as the weather was lovely it was easy to get something cheap and sit in Cavendish square. Drinks are quite expensive but we had a little discount from Bonds which proved rather handy.

I love all the bars and pubs in London, so it was great.

I had the chance to play in a property cricket match after work one evening. I was incredibly glad I went as I met many people from across the firm in different offices as well as having a really enjoyable time, despite being hit for 6 on my first ball!