HR Intern (Project Focus) Review

The Internship was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the key areas of HR. I had the benefit of working in a large team of HR Professionals which gave me exposure to many different styles of working. This allowed me to pick up best practice and learn from some great role models. In terms of less attractive aspects of the role; there is no entry level role that follows on from the Internship, therefore GE are happy to let you go after 12 months despite the knowledge you have learnt or your talent. My colleagues in other GE businesses felt the same and those who had graduated went onto roles outside of GE following internship completion.

Overall, you are expected to 'get on with it', if you are someone who just gets on with your work quietly and meet your goals then you will continue to receive work as your colleagues know they can rely on you, however you are expected to do this and will not always receive a thankyou. If you want recognition, you have to 'shout about it'. GE is a company where you have to promote yourself if you want to gain opportunities and be prepared to talk the talk.

This is a difficult question to answer as i had barely any contact with my manager however i saw my supervisor every day. My Supervisor was an amazing teacher; with a massive amount of patience and knowledge. She ensured that i had all the support i needed in terms of the administration and process side of my role. In terms of project work I was left to work totally on my own and expected to hit the ground running. This was a great challenge as I learnt many lessons about prioritisng work and meeting Senior managers expectations however an individual who needs support and motivation from their manager would struggle.

I was always busy, always had more than enough to do and there was a number of times where i felt i had more demands than what my role should be. However this was positive as it meant i had lots of exposure to different people and gave me fantastic experience to start my next role. I must admit i have lost alot of sleep worrying about work but as long as you are prepared you will deal with it.

I was given a massive amount of responsibility for many projects. Pre-internship i would never of imagined i would be given such an amount of responsibility but it has been invaluable in developing my skills, coping with pressure and making me more assertive.

The skills I learnt will definately aid me in developing a career in HR. I have learnt such a massive amount and although sometimes I have experienced bad days these have taught me the skills i need to become a HR professional.

Stress...the majority of the people in the office were always really busy. However if you had a question most people would go out of their way to help you. There was always lots of cakes and biscuits though.

The Internship did not have a structure as such instead my responsibilities depended on what the business required at the time. I had exposure to the key areas of HR however I would have liked to spend some more time on recruitment. I did not have the opportunity to set goals and objectives with my manager or supervisor and did not receive any formal feedback which was a real shame. It would have also been nice to have a better induction with a meet and greet with some useful people and perhaps a handbook on useful contacts.

I received the GE 'Hiring the Right People' Course as it was suggested that all HR Interns participate so they can interview in the assessment centres. I submitted a request to take part in Influencing skills and presentations skills but did not even get a response.

There are no direct opportunties for HR Interns following their 12 months however the business needs change and if there is a role posted perhaps there may be something in the future for interns. GE will not promote you - you must apply for a role that exists. I think this is a real shame as other companies uses interns as a way to fill their pipeline and retain talent. There is the HR Leadership program but you need 3-5 years experience plus a degree and a masters (and i believe CIPD is not part of the program).

There are a great number of early career role employees (apprentices, interns and grads) on site therefore many opportunities to socialise. Everything from volunteering, to parties to cinema trips. Everyone is really friendly and sociable.

Cheltenham isn't cheap. I believe it costs between £350 and £450 for a room in a house share and £475 - £575 for a 1 bed flat. There are plenty of nice shops and lots of cafes and restaurants.

There are a few nice bars and a couple of OK clubs in Cheltenham, doesn't compare to the big cities though.

There was many opportunities to volunteer outside of work, particularly with schools and the community.