COO Office Associate Review

I have really enjoyed my placement at SAP! There is a very friendly and sociable culture within the company and big early talent community. The placement program has a good structure with a range of projects to get involved in on top off your primary job. This has given me the chance to develop a range of skills.

From day 1 I felt like a valued member of the wider SAP team when we were given a talk from the regional HR director on the importance and value of the intern program. My team clearly outlined where my area of responsibility would be and gave me autonomy and ownership for this allowing me to naturally integrate in to the team. I quickly felt like my team truly valued my work and would always give me their time of day.

I was given a huge amount of support and guidance from my line manager and "buddy" who is assigned to every intern on the program. I was given fortnightly 1:1's with each of them which was a great chance to discuss my personal development and ask any questions. On top of this they were both always extremely welcoming to and encouraging of conversations for any support that I may need. They both were truly invested in me having an excellent experience during my placement.

My role was varied on how busy I was on a daily basis. If I was working on a project or during a particular time of the sales year I could be really busy. However, even when it was quieter I still feel like a had a full days work as there was always something that I could be working on or a member of my team that I could help.

I was given a high level of responsibility on the areas that were suitable for me to do so. Due to the complex nature of SAP and the seniority of the team in which I worked in it was not feasible to be "running the show" However I was responsible for areas specifically within my role and the projects that I delivered upon.

I would say that the 1 year experience I have had at SAP has been more valuable than my 2 years at University for my future career. I have learned huge amounts within my role and the projects that I have taken on. The placement program also offers a wide range of training on general and specific soft skills which have been beneficial.

The general atmosphere was friendly and sociable with an open plan layout and many coffee areas encouraging conversations and networking. Everyone is approachable and happy to help with no divide across levels of seniority from interns to senior management. There are regular social events within the office with food and refreshments available.

The placement is extremely well structured and carefully planned to deliver to you the right content and training at the right time. With the placement beginning with an on-boarding period to get you up to speed on SAP. Everyone is assigned a buddy who is like a mentor as well as your manager to support you throughout the year. We are also provided with a variety of project opportunities, training, and regular placement meetings to ensure we are all having a positive experience.

SAP invested highly in the development of all interns. We were given large amounts of training and development in the early stages to ensure we could start adding value to our teams as soon as possible. Then throughout the year we were given a variety of training sessions from presentation skills to negotiation skills. We also had access to numerous online resources and websites that offered certified training courses.

The future employment prospects are extremely appealing but the reality of getting a job for my particular area of interest is quite limited. There are definite opportunities to return to SAP but there is not an official graduate program to be a part of. This does make returning back a little more challenging but certainly not impossible.

There was a great social experience among the large intern community with regular social events organised outside of work. SAP also ran regular social events within the office and large company events hosted within London such as the Christmas party. All of these events are great fun and really add to that intern experience.

I lived In Clapham so the cost of living was much higher for me but this was a personal choice as I wanted to live in London. The cost of living in Feltham is significantly lower and very affordable. The commute from Clapham to Feltham only took 20 minutes so this worked well for me to get the social element of London.

With Feltham being a quick train journey in to London with a free regular bus shuttle from the office to the train station the options for nightlife are great. Whilst the nightlife within the immediate surrounding area of Feltham is quite limited being so close to London really makes a big difference to your placement year.

There was a team building day out in the beginning of the placement year to get to know your fellow interns. There was also a company charity day where you went and worked with a local charity with your team to do your bit to give back to your community. SAP also have numerous societies to be a part of such as cultures, music, and public speaking.