Supply Chain Intern Review

I worked as a supply chain intern at Asda, looking at all aspects of the supply chain cycle from procurement to distribution. This required a thorough understanding of many different processes. I was involved in meetings - both one-to-one and groups, with senior managers and colleagues on a daily basis. I also helped to plan and coordinate many aspects of the production cycle, particularly for groceries. There was a lot of hands on activity on a daily basis.

I learnt a lot of soft skills including interacting with other people. I developed my confidence presenting in front of large groups of people. I also enhanced my technical skills by working in Microsoft Office products. Beforehand I did not have a comprehensive understanding of Excel, and this internship was a good way to hone in on my knowledge of all Microsoft products including Word, Powerpoint and Excel. I feel confident in my overall abilities.

I was given a lot of responsibility - this responsibility increased over time as I became more confident in my abilities. Initially we were trained on the job and this was a good approach as it suited my learning by doing style. I feel as though I was eased into having more responsibility simply by being more familiar with the process. I was also able to develop others' understanding of different processes, and I was encouraged to pass on my own knowledge to others.

I received a lot of support from my manager and wider team. Asda is a great place to work as there is a camaraderie amongst employees. With retail there are many demands, particularly for those who coordinate the procurement process. I felt supported in all aspects of the job - from the technical side of things but also in managing the work life balance, as I had not had a proper job before this internship, and this will be good for my future.

At Asda there is a real camaraderie amongst workers, because working in retail is difficult. I felt as though I was able to know my colleagues in both a work and out of work environment. This was achieved through regular company socials. I think if I were working full time, I perhaps would not have been involved in so many socials but it was nice to have an idea of what is on offer for staff.

I really enjoyed my internship. With this being my first proper internship or job, I was unsure about what to expect but it exceeded all of my expectations. This was due in large part to my colleagues, who were on hand to support me when required but also to offer guidance on my future. There were many opportunities to apply what I had learnt beforehand in terms of life skills into a real working environment.

Yes

I would advise people to have an open mind about what types of role you want to go into. Supply chain is one of many roles including operations, finance, shop floor, security, that are all interesting in their own right. I was able to gain some exposure to different areas, and this has helped me to make my mind up about what sort of retail career I would like to pursue. I definitely feel more confident than beforehand.