Intern Review

Mainly based at a desk. Interns are expected to take instruction from their mentor which is usually a graduate. However, you complete jobs for anyone on your team that needs support. Most of the work was based on excel/ conducting simple research, for example collecting comparable evidence from Rightmove. some interns are also asked to do more depending on their ability. You are also encouraged to reach out to other teams and have discussions about their work an ask any questions you might have.

As an intern I was not given much responsibility, all of my work was checked. However, I did gain experience conducting phone calls and I was expected to do this myself. Some interns on other teams have more exposure to real life work and are expected to carry this out, however this is specific to your team. You are completely responsible for what you get out of the experience and how you choose to conduct yourself.

My ability to engage and socialise in a corporate environment has been developed considerably. One of the most valuable parts of conducting work experience is learning how a business works and how to interact. My ability to conduct research and find comparables used by more senior team members has been helpful as it is something you have to perfect as a graduate. My excel skills have improved however this is not taught and you are expected to teach yourself.

I received a huge amount of support from my graduate mentor who was always happy to answer any questions, put me in contact with someone or proof read my work. Some interns had more exposure and time with more senior members of their team but that is completely team dependent, for example how busy your team is and its culture (which varies). It is down to the individual to form connections with people and seek support.

If you are in a large company the culture varies quite considerably from team to team. People are generally friendly and are happy for you to approach and ask questions if you are mindful of when they are busy. Some teams are far more social and like to go out as a team or go for days out. It is really dependent on what team you end up in/ how much work they have on.

I really enjoyed my placement and think it has been invaluable for my career progression and future development. I would urge anyone to undertake some form of work placement to gain a deeper understanding of the industry. I have particularly enjoyed the socialising with other interns and getting to know them better over the month. I have also learnt a huge amount in a month and there is a lot I can take forward into my career

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