Large Enterprise Marketing Intern Review

Whilst the people were excellent and I did learn some good skills, I found the day in, day out grind a struggle. It wasn't necessarily fully engaging at all times. The people however made it a much better experience though I was pleased when it was over. Corporate isn't necessarily for me.

Certain colleagues I made a real connection with, and I know I will be in touch for a lifetime. They had a huge impact on me and I know helped me develop personally. These were the people who sat around me. The wider office were very friendly and welcoming as well.

My direct supervisor was absolutely brilliant, guiding me and being a source of support when the general atmosphere turned sour. But general management was questionable. I felt that they were too busy a lot of the time, maybe through no fault of their own, but it meant a lot of people didn't feel listened to.

I struggled with a lack of work, or with work that lacked purpose or meaning. You could have removed me from my role and I'm not sure anything would have changed. I found myself having finished my daily tasks by midday and I struggled to get enough tasks elsewhere. I did look to take the initative and do my own thing, but it is hard in this environment.

Other than maybe owning one project, I didn't think that most of my tasks had any bearing on the department or on the business. Most of the tasks were out of my hands or tied to budget controls so I felt like my autonomy lacked. I think when you work in a giant business though this is to be expected.

This year has definitely had an impact on my dissertation choice and the choice of a career path I will follow in the future. The experiences I had were great life lessons, even if they didn't feel worth learning at the beginning. I am glad I took the year in industry and think it has benefitted me in the long term.

It was a very quiet office, with people being very stretched to complete a lot in their tasks. This meant that room for creativity or a laugh was a little tight. That is not to say individuals weren't lovely or up for a good time, but just meant the hard work interrupted.

The work placement was very well set up. I knew from the beginning when I was starting, what my hours were, logistically what was set up for us. The contact was very quick and as a second year student anxiously waiting to start this was much appreciated. Overall very well organised by the team.

We had a couple of group training days, but it felt more generic. There were however opportunities to do further training or development, but big costs at the end of a paid course put me off these. It would have also been good to have known about these at the start of the year.

Though the people are great and the brand is well known across the world, I am glad to have experienced this year because I have established this isn't an industry I want to work within. It doesn't fit my interests and I don't enjoy the corporate structures. Therefore I will not be seeking a job within this organisation.

There was a really good social scene amongst the fellow placement and grad community. I made some good friends though as the placement developed and the nights got shorter I think we struggled a bit more to maintain the ongoing social scene. This is natural and I don't think representative of the company.

The cost of living was quite high, but I think that is typical of the area. Having come from a uni where the cost of living was quite high, this cost wasn't a shock to me. Socialising didn't really happen as most people went straight home after work as most people drove to work because it was quite out in the middle of nowhere.

There was absolutely no nightlife in the area I worked. There were a couple of good pubs which we would occasionally go to during the day for food, but the actual area itself had no nightlife. There were places we could go within a half hour drive, but obviously hard to get home to afterwards.

There was a few opportunities, but unless you played football or netball there wasn't anything on offer! Perhaps this is because it was in an area with not much around but I didn't find there were that many opportunities to get involved in activites outside of work. We luckily had a good intern chat and so arranged a few other bbq's etc.