Retail Events Intern Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole year at Disney and would do it all again if I had the chance.

My colleagues made me feel very welcome in the team. I wasn't treated like an intern, but as a full-time employee.

My manager was always available to help if I needed it. There was never a time that I needed help and could not find it.

Working in events, this can vary from day to day. Leading up to events the team is extremely busy and the days surrounding the event can require extra hours being put in. There can sometimes be more than one event to manage at once, so this can make things very busy. Immediately after an event, there are always a few quiet days, but it isn't long before the work for the next event kicks in.

I was treated as a full-time employee by my manager. I was trusted to manage whole events alone which was a fantastic experience. I really felt that my manager could put her trust in me to take on my own projects.

The placement has enhanced my event management skills in a way that studying would not be able to. It has reaffirmed my belief that I am on the right career path and I am very excited for the future.

There is generally a relaxed atmosphere. Everybody gets on very well and your colleagues make the office a great environment to work in.

I recieved a two week handover from the intern before me, as well as a handbook that she had created with easy to follow steps on most things that the job involves. There were quarterly reviews with my manager to discuss what I hoped to achieve over the subsequent four months and these were always very helpful. I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of different events so have been given a well-rounded introduction into the events industry.

There is no personal training/development scheme as such, but the quarterly meetings with my manager made me feel reassured that the company wanted to understand my progression over the year.

I would love nothing more than staying/returning to the company. Unfortunately there are next to no entry level jobs, so I believe people tend to work elsewhere before returning to the company in a higer position. I have made valuable contacts within the company whom I hope would inform me if any suitable jobs arise.

The intern community is really strong in the company. With approximately 150 interns in the company, they do almost form their own little community.

London living is extremely expensive. To put things into perspective, I currently pay £520 per month (not including bills) for a tiny room in a flat above a fish and chip shop in Hammersmith and I am told this is a very good deal. Most of the other interns i know are paying £600+ per month. On the upside I do not have to pay for travel. All bars/pubs in the area are around the same price as the rest of London, but there are a few that do happy hours if you fancy a cheap cocktail.

There are lots of bars and oubs, but if you want nightclubs you will have to go into central London, which is only 20mins away on the tube.

I know that there is a ladies' netball team and a men's football team, but there weren't any activites like these that I was involved in.