R&D Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship as I was exposed to a wide range of projects and had the opportunity to work with a variety of people. I found the work varied and interesting and I learnt a lot during my time there. I enjoyed being able to work with a wide range of companies within the cosmetics industry and I had the opportunity to visit various manufacturers.

It was rare I felt like 'the intern' and most of the people I worked with thought of me as a permanent employee. Having said this, there were still a few occasions when I did not feel valued by certain colleagues.

My manager was extremely supportive during my placement year and arranged weekly meetings to discuss progress of projects and personal development.

Every day varied; some days I wouldn't be very busy whereas other days I would be extremely busy and occassionally had to work at home in the evening. I am the type of person who likes to be constantly busy so I ensured that I pushed for more work when I felt that I wasn't being challenged enough.

I was given a lot more responsibility than I expected and the more I proved I could be trusted the more responsibility I got. I worked on product development as part of a wider team and was also responsible for some of my own projects.

As my placement was not very technical I did not learn much to apply in my further studies. However, I did learn and develop invaluable skills that will help me in my future career.

Approximately 17 people worked in my office area although this varied daily as people were often visiting suppliers or working at the London office. My department was located within the main headquarters of The Body Shop and where the majority of departments were based including the main warehouse which delivered products worldwide. The site as a whole was dynamic, sociable and friendly.

The process from application to my last day was very organised. The only negative was that accommodation was not very well organised and we didn't get much advice from the company.

As well as formal training during my first few months, my performance and development was constantly monitored by my manager.

Unfortunately there is not an official graduate scheme for my department. There is the opportunity to go back into a direct entry role but only if there is a position available at the time.

I lived with some other placement students for the year and we socialised with other placement students as well. There were opportunities to socialise with other colleagues at trade events and we had a huge Christmas party in Brighton.

The cost of living was quite expensive and my rent was a lot more than at university. However, the salary covered this.

Although the Brighton was nearby with a great nightlife, the local area was not great for nightlife with only a few local pubs and small clubs.

There were not many company organised activities outside of work.