This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
-
The Company
-
The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The struggle was initially getting used to my role and the workload. However, my managers were so patient and willing to help, but at the same time constantly challenged and pushed me to achieve more and learn more.
Everybody was very friendly and helping.
My manager was very happy to help and everyone was willing to help when asked.
The business operates in quarters and it is balanced in the sense that you know exactly what to do for each quater and when, so you can effectively plan yourself. However, I wasn't preparedd for the level required for when it came to Strategic Planning and Budget. However, it all balances out in the end. You learn to manage.
You are given responsibility from the start. The team and other divisions are reliant on the reports and schedules that are produced. However, they understand you are just an intern and know that its a learning process. You know that your role is improtant when VP's and Directors come directly to you and ask you to run reports and do an analysis for their European meetings.
Starting the placement and coming from university, i thought I had a good enough knowledge of the way business works, accounting and even my IT skills i thought were sufficient. When I started I found that everything I learnt at university was simply theory. All the skills i have learnt in this placement I know are invaluable and the placement has literally prepared me for work more than I could ever have gotten from university. However, the skills i learnt, understanding business, analysis, ICT skills and presentations I can directly apply to my university life.
The Company
The office is literally buzzing. Its really relaxed and laid back, but work always gets done. People's achievements and personal successes are always recognized. People are genuinely nice and welcoming to you. It also helps when you can watch a film with your friends during work time.... or go to one of the many sales.
They had my role laid out perfectly. There was constant appraisals to check on my progress. They slowly built up my workload so that I could manage and understand what was being asked of me. I had an intern manual on arrival to explain the systems, reports and files that I would be constantly using. Very well prepared.
From the beginning I was asked what I wanted to gain from the placement and we worked towards my goals and still completing the tasks necessary. They allowed me to think for myself and propose ideas, that were actually applied in some cases. They have online performance connection where tasks are set by your line manager and we work towards them. Generally, they were very good in training me to do the job well.
Subsidised Canteen
Company Parties/Events
The only downside here is they don't have a graduate scheme. However, many of the previous interns have returned to work for Disney. They are a company that prefer to promote internally, so if they like you and you've networked enough, someone would more than likely contact you if a position became available.
The Culture
We had an intern share point shared all kinds of information, from flat shares to parties. We also had an intern social committee that organised monthly socials for the interns. As well as regular drinks and karaoke at the pub.
It depends what your used to. Its based in West London, I can't complain. You could eat at a decent restaurant for £20... perfect for the average student !
Its all about who you go with. We usually went into central London.
They have online performance connection where tasks are set by your line manager and we work towards them.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
London
June 2014