Partner and Alliances Intern Review

My placement at SAP has highly exceeded all my expectations! There has not been a dull moment to date and I have been involved in a multitude of engaging, valuable projects. These have ranged from projects within the 'Green Team' and 'Cultures' to working on webinars and events directly with our partners. More importantly, knowing that I am having a direct effect on the business and its outcomes have made the placement even more enjoyable and really pushed me to work at my optimum level.

I have felt extremely valued by my colleagues throughout my time here at SAP. It was made clear from day one that we are an asset to the business and I have been treated accordingly. My views and ideas have been welcomed with open arms and joining the team has felt like one large family. Colleagues have been extremely supportive, taking out specific time to focus on my personal growth and development as well as what I am contributing to the business.

Support and guidance is an aspect which is massively emphasized here at SAP. I have regular bi weekly meetings with my manager where we discuss the projects I am on and I also deliver key updates. These meetings allow me to ask for help and guidance where necessary, not only in a professional sense but also personally. My manager has also been extremely keen for me to set my own goals which she has been helping me to achieve as the placement has progressed. As well as this I have a mentor who I meet with weekly and has been extremely active in in giving me support.

No two days are the same for me in my role here at SAP and there is never nothing to do! How busy you are at SAP is all dependent on how much you are willing to put in. There is always a project for you to get involved in and always a way that you can add more value to a team. There have been days where I may not have as much to do in my main role, however I see this as a huge advantage which should be utilized. It has given me the opportunity to get involved in other parts of the business such as marketing, pre sales and sales!

I have been pleasantly surprised with the amount of responsibility that has been given to me during my placement. When initially joining SAP as an intern I never thought I would be interacting with and seeing customers and partners on an almost daily basis. The responsibility that I have been given further emphasizes the trust and value within my team and it has allowed me to develop so many skills which would not otherwise be possible.

The skills I have developed and gained here at SAP have been invaluable. Having the opportunity to apply the business theory that I have learnt from my degree into a practical environment such as SAP has allowed me to see the varying paths that business can take. I have also developed vital soft skills which I believe will allow me thrive in my career after university. Something as simple as presenting to my team or being actively involved in a customer meeting are experiences which have allowed me to adapt to the business environment and gain the skills and confidence I could not have picked up in the classroom.

The atmosphere in the office is extremely warm and friendly. I have never felt intimidated by those around me and those in senior, managerial roles are just like everyone else. The office is very open plan and everyone is accessible where necessary. Overall a very comfortable, safe atmosphere to work in.

The organisation of the placement has been absolutely outstanding! I can genuinely say that I feel as though the steering committee have thoroughly thought about all aspects of the program from start to finish. Feedback is massively encouraged and immediately acted upon to encourage the best results. Overall I cannot fault the organisation of the program.

SAP cares just as much fro your personal development as it does what you are contributing to the company. After expressing my interest in various sectors of the business, Lindsey has gone out of her way to introduce me to the relevant individuals so that I may gain experience and exposure where necessary. She has even gone to the extent of setting up a specific sales program due to a significant number of interns expressing their interest in gaining more experience in this area. It is clear that the company is more than willing to invest in us to gain the necessary skills to deliver. There are also countless online courses that we have access to for personal development and I am currently learning how to code through Pluralsight.

SAP does not have a graduate program in place however they do have a sales and pre sales academy. I have personally fit in really well with the company and immediately taken to the partner team. I believe networking is key for future employment prospects, something which I am actively engaged on and I would love the opportunity to further my career with SAP. Overall prospects are extremely appealing as SAP is an environment where I have been able to thrive and deliver desired results.

The social scene during my placement has been great. With over 70 placement students, most of us try to meet for a social on a weekly basis. This has allowed for friendships to develop and I have been able to get to know the placement students on a personal as well as professional level.

I chose to live at home for my placement year so cost of living was fairly low. This meant that I had more disposable income to save and spend on socializing which was great. Due to the location of our main SAP office not being central to London this meant that the cost of socializing was not extortionate!

I have not experienced a lot of the night life in the area, however this is simply due to my personal preference. The socials that I have attended have been great fun and there are a lot of nice bars in Richmond near the water which is amazing for Summer.

There are countless activities to get involved in outside of work, it is just a case of where you would like to spend your time and getting a good balance! I personally joined the green team as well as cultures as they aligned with my interest outside of work. There is also a free gym on site and a large fitness community!