Marketing Intern Review

My placement was one of the best experiences that I have taken part in to date. Moving out of my comfort zone in a supportive and friendly environment, developing my knowledge of Marketing, Business as well as building on my confidence and communication within the team.

The office environment was very friendly and welcoming. From day one, you are part of the team. There is no stigma attached to being in intern, you are an employee with the same benefits as any colleague. Whilst being part of the team, this mean that I was trusted and valued with real business responsibilities as well as working with my colleagues to experience as much as possible.

I was lucky enough to have two line managers during my time with Eaton. This meant that I had the best of both worlds, being guided by both managers throughout my time. My managers ensured that I experience as much of the business as possible, from encouraging me out of my comfort zone with a product development project to presenting my project updates during the year. This meant that I had a wide range of opportunities to gain more responsibilities and grow within the business. Supported by both throughout my intern reviews and quarterly reviews to ensuring that had feedback to improve upon during my time within the business.

Throughout my time with Eaton, I was always busy with work to complete and explore. This was the best way to learn, providing me with different areas to focus on, building on my time management and learning about the business. I had weekly meetings with my line manager to ensure that we both knew where we were and the tasks that I had planned for the week ahead. This meant that if I was struggling with the workload, then I could ask for assistance or guidance if required. Within these meetings, I would also gain a few tasks, however these were always in agreement with my current workload; nothing was placed on my workload with consent on both sides. From the first day, I was supported by my line manager, that if the workload did get too much, I just needed to inform them and it could be altered.

From the handover of the placement, I was encouraged to take on responsibility. This meant from day one, I was in charge of sending brochure requests, the website, which then grew throughout the year into my projects and additional tasks. From the responsibility of the price lists, the change management procedure within the business to the products for our trade show stand. This provided me with experience of real business responsibility as well as the knowledge that I was making a positive impact to the business through my workload. Towards the end of my placement, I have been overwhelmed at the trust and added value that I have created during my year, highlighting the impact and success of a years' business experience for the team and the overall business.

The confidence to speak in front of people; from the start of my placement I was lacking in confidence and the knowledge that I can ask questions and no-one will mind! However, since growing within Eaton, I now have the confidence to present in front of an audience of 50 senior managers within the business, as well as asking questions without a second thought! This will assist with presenting during final year and into my future career. The time management skills I have developed over my placement year will assist with the pressures of final year, ensuring that I can keep on top of my workload as well as extra tasks such as volunteering. From experiencing the business, this has built upon my knowledge and will provide me with examples for future assignments and business situations that I have experienced during the last year. With the exposure to the business, this has meant that overall, I am a different person returning to university, with the attitude adapted for work and to achieve all within my reach and more.

The office atmosphere has been very supportive and friendly during my intern year. Even on challenging days for the business, there has been a comforting atmosphere which has encouraged me.

This placement has been very well organised, from our handover and induction to our final training session and presentation. With my day to day responsibilities and the intern plan for the year, meant that I knew where I was and where I could look for future developments. This was also supported through the intern monthly reports, where our line managers and our Graduate and Intern HR Management could also suggest areas for improvement and highlighting our strengths and developments. With the feedback each month, this helped to build a picture of our intern journeys' supporting each development whilst reflecting on our achievements to date. We are also teamed with a 'Buddy', a graduate within our function who we are in touch with throughout the year to support and build on our achievements and challenges; this was very helpful, especially through the first month or so, when adapting to the workload as they knew what we were going through and supported our introduction into the business.

The intern placement scheme has a wide range of training that takes part throughout the year. This provides the opportunity for all the interns to get together, catch up as well as take part in the training. The training can be provided through external sources or internal colleagues, providing both an insight into other business units or the business world outside of Eaton. Training in Excel, Presentations, Professional Development, Project Management, Communication and Finance. Additional training is also provided by the business unit, therefore I have also had SAP training, product training, and CRM training.

I am waiting to hear if I have been offered a place on the Graduate Scheme, although I have received positive feedback from my 'End of Year' presentation from the audience and my line manager.

I lived with some of the interns based at my site. This supported the work ethic within the house, as we all travelled to the intern events together and often travelled to work together too. This added to the intern year as we all worked similar hours, supporting each other with the work lifestyle. Our colleagues within the business have also welcomed us, with social events during the weekends.

Whilst being based in Cwmbran, South Wales. We rented a house which the previous interns had also lived in. The 'Intern House' was close to work, usually a few minutes drive, with low rent and bills on top, this was very reasonable as opposed to university life.

There was limited nightlife in Cwmbran. However, Cardiff was just a train ride away which has a more student oriented lifestyle.

Within work, there was the opportunity to join the football club, along with the football charity match against another Eaton site. During the summer, there was also a few occasions where we had a few drinks after work.