Chemistry Intern Review
by bp
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
4.8
-
The Company
4.6
-
The Culture
3.6
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I sincerely hope I can come back and work full-time when I graduate.
Despite only being there for 11 weeks I felt like everyone treated me as part of the team. With some people it felt like I had worked with them for ages, not just the summer!
My line manager provided the perfect balance of giving me responsibility and supporting/guiding me. He allowed me to make mistakes and then learn from them but at no point did I feel like he wasn't there for me if I needed him. The team leader was also very supportive.
At BP in Pangbourne the balance between work and home is perfect. The hours aren't too long and there is some flexibility with when you work just in case something unexpected comes up. I had a lot of project work to do but I never thought it was unmanageable and still left me time to meet people and find out more about what the company does.
My line manager gave me as much responsibility over my project as I wanted. I never felt like I was working for him but with him. I had plenty of scope for making my own decisions and taking my own actions on the project.
A key lesson I learnt during my internship was to ensure I remain structired in my approach to problems and make sure I regularly check the bigger picture before analysing the details. Very useful lessons not only for my degree, but any future work I undertake.
The Company
The office was a great environment to work in. Everyone was friendly and interested in each others' projects. It was a place where a lot got done but it never felt like you could never turn up and chat to someone.
It was clearly a very well organised internship scheme with only a few technological teething problems that are likely to occur in most places!
There were masterclasses on site I could attend, training sessions I was encouraged to attend, and even the final assessment centre provided valuable lessons. I was even invited on a departmental team building event despite being there for so short a time. I was definitely very well looked after by BP.
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
Company Parties/Events
Working from home
Extremely! I sincerely hope I am able to return for full-time employment after I graduate!
The Culture
There were only 4 interns at the site who lived in different areas so it was difficult to find a time when everyone could meet up outside work however we regularly met for lunch and all got on well.
Average. There isn't much to do in Reading but it's not too expensive.
There isn't much to do in Reading but other places nearby offer good nightlife.
BP offer subsidies towards events organised by and for employees.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
South East
September 2011
