Strategy & Planning Intern Review

I am aligned to the Sales Strategy and Planning team and work closely with my manager on analysing data such as forecasting, sellout, opportunities etc. I also provide meaningful and accurate reporting to wider HPE teams to support them in their roles. I update different data sources on daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly basis so that the teams have the most up-to-date data to work with. I also deal with ad hoc requests from my manager.

This placement has really tested my skillset and has helped to develop existing skills and allowed me to learn new skills. I have developed my teamworking skills through working with different colleagues on projects at a greater scope than I have done at University previously. Working remotely and working in a corporate environment has developed my communication skills greatly, through emailing senior leaders to presenting to different audiences. I have also developed new skills such as Excel, PowerBI.

As an intern I was given a great level of responsibility. Managing reports that are used by senior leaders and the wider UKIMESA teams meant that I had to ensure data was accurate and I had to be able to deal with requests from these colleagues. I was also given responsibility to recruit new interns to the team, as well as managing their preboarding. You are given the same responsibility as other colleagues who are not interns.

I received daily support from my first line manager, having nearly daily check-ins to work together. I then received support from my wider team and all of the other interns in my cohort. If I ever wanted to learn more about an area of a business or asking someone for support/guidance, everyone who I reached out to was more than willing to have a call with me. We were also aligned a mentor from the early careers teams who I had regular 1-1s with and they would cover any topics/areas I wanted support in.

HPE has a really strong company culture. During my placement there were company-wide events that I could get involved in that ranged from talks, webinars, team member appreciation day etc. There were also a number of social activities throughout the year that not only encouraged us to connect with our colleagues but also raised money for charities. HPE also has a strong intern and early community which is lead by a committee to ensure we are all connected and engaged.

I really enjoyed my placement year at HPE. I have met many amazing people from the interns in my cohort to all the other HPE employees, everyone has been so welcoming and supportive in my development over the year. I have developed so much both personally and professionally, developing many transferable skills that I can take with me in my final year of university and in to future job roles. I couldn't recommend a placement here enough!

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Research the company well beforehand, the greater background knowledge you have the better you will come across in the interview. Highlight any key skills/experience you have that is relevant to the role you are applying for in your CV to help you stand out. Connect with current and previous interns on LinkedIn to hear more about their experiences and to ask for advice. Be passionate and show a eagerness to learn!