HR, Payroll & Benefits Intern Review

I did very much enjoy my internship at BMW. I got insight in many different departments (HR Services, Global Assignments, Payroll & Benefits, etc). The work environment is very friendly and pleasant and everybody is very helpful. You get the opportunity to learn how to work independently but also as a team. You also get the chance to meet a lot of people and network which is very useful for your future career.

I felt really valued by my colleagues as well as by my manager. I have received a lot of (positive) feedback for my work which made me feel like my work is being appreciated. It has also often been stressed that I, as an intern, am an important part of the team.

I haven't had a handover by the previous intern which I think would have been very helpful. I think you definitely need to work independently at BMW, which can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning when everything is still new. But everybody is always ready to answer questions if any help is needed. There are also a lot of job aids on the different processes which I found very helpful.

It took a while until I had my daily tasks / projects to work on which meant I had time to get to know everyone and to get used to all the processes during my first weeks. In the middle of my internship I had a lot of work to do and some projects that I could help with. If you think you aren't busy enough you can always ask to get a few more things to do. There is always something that you can help with - at least that was my experience.

I was given some day to day tasks that included communicating with the employees and answering their requests which I think is a lot of responsibility for an intern. I would say if you don't feel comfortable to have a lot of responsibility you don't have to take it, but if you are eager to take on some responsibility you definitely get the chance to.

First of all, I think it is always enriching to get some hands on working experience and not just to learn things in theory. I also think it is a very good experience to have gained insight into a company as big as BMW and to learn about its corporate structure and processes. Thirdly, as a student of an International Cultural and Business Studies degree the internship was also very helpful to see in which direction the professional career could go.

The atmosphere was always very relaxed and informal. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and always ready to answer questions. There were also team events and lunches together.

Overall, the internship was well organised - from the application process to the end of the internship. You always have contact persons you can turn to with questions. On the first day of the internship, there was also a welcome event for all new interns, where you could get to know the company better and also make first acquaintances.

In the beginning of the internship, we had a lot of training sessions as there were a lot of new team members joining the company in January. We also had some external companies coming to the plant to give some training sessions which was really interesting.

The company is undoubtedly an attractive employer, as there are opportunities for advancement within the company and you can also get to know different areas. Assignments abroad are also possible.

Yes, there was a good social scene amongst fellow placement students and colleagues. There are intern socials once a week where you can quickly get to know each other. Usually, the socials take place in bars. Sometimes, they also go bowling or play lasertag. In many departments, there are also team socials - usually in restaurants.

Living in Oxford is very expensive, especially rental costs. I payed 700£ for a room in a shared house which I think is very expensive. There are some places that are less expensive, but they are then not in a very good condition. Costs for going out or eating out are alright - there are also a lot of places that offer student discounts.

The nightlife in Cowley is very good. There is a big street with bars and restaurants where you can go to any day of the week and there is always something going on. There are also some clubs and a lot of students go there which is good to meet some people in our age.