Intern Review

There was regular communication and online meetings. We had the opportunity to hear from lots of interesting people, and learn about their experiences at Centrica. It was very engaging, and I liked the fact that we were able to meet the other participants in the programme (virtually) and get to know a bit about each other. There was a lot of variety in each of the meetings, and in each one we discussed different topics.

All of us were made to feel very valued by the company. We were communicated with clearly throughout and we always knew exactly what the situation was. We were made to feel like part of the team, as they discussed things honestly with us and it wasn’t sugar-coated. When the decision was made to cancel the in-person aspect they called us and talked it through with us, which was very reassuring at such an uncertain time.

There was guidance throughout the virtual experience. They held a session on mental wellbeing towards the end of the virtual experience, which was very beneficial at such a stressful time. I felt supported throughout and had very few worries or concerns. All the colleagues who I met (virtually) were very friendly and reassuring, and I felt very comfortable talking to them. There was never a point where I felt that I lacked support or guidance.

I think that the virtual experience developed my understanding of the company considerably. By the end, I felt that I understood more about how the company operates and their strategy; which was very I retesting to me. Learning about this will help me not only in my degree studies but also when I start my career. I think that the experiences that I had on this virtual programme have made me a more well-rounded individual.

The virtual experience was very well structured. There was a clear timeline of when our meetings would be held, at what time and on what platform. We were also informed in advance what our sessions would be about, so that we could prepare any thoughts or questions. Each session also had a fun ice-breaker to help us get to know each other better and feel more comfortable. I can’t fault the organisation of this virtual programme.

The atmosphere was great throughout the experience. Everyone was friendly and chatty, and I immediately felt comfortable. The icebreaker activities meant that we all got to know each other quickly and really bonded with each other. Every colleague from Centrica that I met was friendly and welcoming, and I got a really good impression of the company. Everyone was very passionate about what they were doing, and it helped to shape my own aspirations for my future.

Due to the virtual nature of the programme, we unfortunately didn’t have many opportunities for personal development and training. I think this is the main area that could be improved in the future, as it would have been really beneficial to have more of an introduction to the actual work to at we would be carrying out if we were to be offered a full-time role at the company. This area was slightly lacking in my opinion.

The virtual experience gave us a really thorough overview of the graduate programme at Centrica, how it runs and what we could expect. We had the opportunity to talk to graduates who had been at Centrica for a few years, and to discuss their experiences. It allowed me to have more of an idea of what to expect as a graduate, and the rotations that I might have the opportunity to experience. I really enjoyed this aspect of the virtual experience.

From the virtual experience, I definitely got a better understanding of the company’s values and culture. To me, this was an important aspect as I want to work for a company with similar values to myself. Also, by talking to colleagues who work at Centrica it allowed me to get a better idea of what life at Centrica is like, especially the social side. It was definitely nice to experience a company with such a friendly and welcoming culture.

The content has definitely had an impact on my future career plans. It made me consider more deeply what a career with Centrica would be like, and if this would be suited to my personality and skills. By giving me a more in-depth onlook onto the graduate scheme, it has given me a lot to consider and made me understand my different options better. Personally, this experience has been really helpful to me and I would recommend it.

We were given a payment after the cancellation of the summer internship, but we were not paid for the virtual experience itself. In my opinion, it was very generous of them to give us a good-will payment, especially in such a financially difficult time for everybody. Although the virtual experience itself was unpaid, it was definitely worth attending as I feel that I benefitted a lot from it. It really helped me to shape my future aspirations.

There were a lot of networking opportunities with this virtual experience. Firstly, we got to network a lot with other colleagues on the virtual programme. This was interesting, as we all came from different backgrounds and everyone was friendly. We also got to meet colleagues from Centrica, and get to know them and their backgrounds. I enjoyed hearing about their career paths and experiences at Centrica, and they left a very positive impression upon me.

The networking opportunities were excellent. All the people I met were really interesting people, with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This was really cool because everyone was so different and I learned a lot from them. This was one of my favourite aspects of the virtual programme as I love to meet people and talk to them. It was a great chance to ask them any questions I had, and to get their honest opinions on the graduate scheme.

During the virtual experience, we heard about life at Centrica holistically - not just work-related. We learnt about the different social activities available, and things such as volunteering that we can do outside of work. This was really interesting to me, as having a good work-life balance is important to me. It was really cool to hear about the different things that Centrica employees do outside of work, and the things that they get involved in.

Overall, I would recommend this virtual experience to a friend. Although some aspects lacked, such as training and development opportunities, it taught me so much about the company and how it operates. It also gave me more information about the graduate scheme and allowed me to consider whether or not I would be suited to it. It was a really positive experience, and I feel that I benefitted a lot from the opportunities it gave me.