Foundations Intern Review

by Cancer Research UK

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.1/5
  • The Role
    4.7
  • The Company
    3.8
  • The Culture
    3.8

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • I had a fantastic experience as an intern, and have learned so much about the charity sector and Cancer Research UK more specifically.

    5/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and I always felt like I could ask for support. My colleagues made it very clear how much they appreciated my work and made me feel like part of the team.

    5/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • I had lots of support from my manager who worked really hard to help with my personal development as well as supporting my day to day work. I also had a mentor outside my team who was an invaluable help when it came to job applications.

    5/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • My workload increased throughout the internship as my skills developed and I was given bigger projects to worked on, but I was never too busy.

    5/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • I was responsible for managing one of the Foundations' twitter feeds and also lead on the development of a fundraising section for the website.

    5/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • This internship was an invaluable experience and has given me a great start for a career in charity fundraising. I gained lots of skills and had the benefit of CV and interview training which definitely helped in job searching.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • My team got on really well and though everyone worked hard there was plenty of chatting (and cake).

    4/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • Very well organised, the induction days were really informative and we had a dedicated volunteering exec who was always available to support us. I had a weekly 1 to 1 with my manager and completed two week, mid placement and end of placement reviews as well as filling in a personal development pack to help set targets for the internship.

    4/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • My manager was really aware of areas that I wanted to develop throughout the internship and made sure I had opportunities to work on them. I also had mini inductions with members of other departments to learn more about different areas of the charity. There wasn't any specific training required for the role but I know there are opportunities to sign up for learning and development courses.

    4/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • Subsidised Canteen

    Company Parties/Events

    Healthcare/Dental
    3/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • I am thrilled to have secured a permanent role at Cancer Research UK. This was only advertised internally, meaning I wouldn't have been able to apply had I not done the internship. It is made very clear from the beginning that they cannot guarantee jobs for interns, and only 6 or 7 out of 48 interns are staying on in paid roles.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • Really great- there was always a table or two of interns having lunch together and we went for drinks after work about once a week.

    4/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • High as it's central London but we found some good deals.

    3/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • There are lots of bars around Angel and it's pretty easy to get the tube elsewhere for bigger nights out.

    4/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • Lots of opportunities- I volunteered at two high profile fundraising events, spent a day at a wedding fair and collected money at Tescos. I was also very involved with intern fundraising which was a great way to raise money as a group.

    5/5
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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

London

April 2013

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