Geographical Business Analyst Review

I really enjoyed my internship at Intel mainly due to the responsibility I was given and the community feel. The whole company make you feel welcomed but especially the operations department, where we are all treated as valued employees. As my internship has progressed I have been involved in more tasks and projects and have been able to use and gain a deeper understanding of the tools and processes that Intel carry out. I have been at the forefront of decision making with help and guidance from experienced members within my team along with employees from across the globe. Being at Intel has allowed me to interact with many different people whilst learning about the business.

Being treated like a full time employee and not an Intern is important at Intel. From day one you are treated the same as everybody else and the same rules apply to you. This means that your colleagues have to apply by these rules and they do this to a very high standard. They understand how important it is to make you feel welcomed in order for you to do the best you can and make you feel like a valued member of your team. You will get given tasks just like everyone else and you're able to show them how well you can complete these tasks. They understand you wont be able to do everything but are willing to help you if you need their assistance.

Throughout my time at Intel I know that I have always been supported by my manager and my on the job coach. This is through meetings with them both as well on the job training and discussions on a daily basis when we need them. I know exactly who I can turn to for help when needed and this could be a number of other colleagues as well. When you start you're given a lot of training In order for you to have some knowledge before you get stuck into your role so you're not thrown in the deep end and then your management make sure you are properly ramped into your role. You can always talk to a member of management at any time with their open door policy and they are always willing to help. However, they understand that sometimes you will need to work things out yourself so will not just give you the answers you need but will show you how to find them.

Generally, I was fairly busy and I felt this much more as I was ramping into my new role but this is expected. However, I believe this can fluctuate with the demands of the business and the industry as a whole. There were definitely times that are quieter than others due to holidays and peak seasons but this tends to be a trend throughout the whole company. There is always opportunities to pick up extra tasks or shadow other employees so you can experience different roles within Intel. This is a great chance to meet new people but you just need to make sure your own role is completed first.

I was never kept away from responsibility during my time on placement and my level of responsibility naturally grew. This was mainly due to the needs of the organisation changing. You're expected to be able to cover other colleagues whilst on placement but this is usually for people in a similar job, However sometimes this can include people in a higher role which gives you great visibility but you will never be forced to do something you really cannot do. You also have a number of support networks around you to assist you when you need it. On the other hand, on a daily basis you can ask for more responsibility and you may need to make sure your manger understands that you can do the tasks so you are given the opportunity.

I've developed a variety of skills including organisation and phone manner. Although I know there's always room for improvement this experience has allowed me to pin point what needs to be improved and how I can improve my skills even more. However, my knowledge and firsthand experience will be the most beneficial for my degree as I will be able to write about real life situations and fully understand the corporate world.

The atmosphere in my office was overall friendly and calm. Everyone would say hello and goodbye with a smile and you could even have a little chat with people you don't know. However, this was always done in respectful manner as everyone was understanding that others may be on calls or doing important work.

As Intel have an established intern scheme the set up was very organised. Management know the routine and procedures they had to carry out in order for us to complete our placements before we even started. When we arrived we already had assigned roles and on the job coaches to ensure our transitions were smooth, this was also helped by a 5 week handover from our previous interns.

It's up to yourself to ensure that you are developing your skills but this comes naturally when you take on your role. However, the only formal training you receive is when you start but colleagues take the time out of their busy schedules to ensure you are ramped up in your role correctly and are always there to help.

Intel do hire back a certain number of their interns each year so you making sure you impress are efficient in your role is key. What you put into the role is what you get out of it so if you want to be hired back you have to make sure you deserve it and stand out.

Intel employ a number of Interns and there is a strong social aspect which allows you to mix with other interns that you particular don't work with on a daily basis. Most interns also live together so this naturally brings out a social side. There is also committees in which you can get involved in and through this events are held such as sports days in order to raise money.

The cost of living in Swindon is much cheaper than other areas and you can get a lot for your money. House sharing can bring down prices even more. There is a large town that has all your essential shops as well as a smaller town that is quieter and is a nice area to socialise with friends.

There are many bars and pubs that are nice to go to after work and on the weekends. There are only a couple of big clubs one of which has just opened so it is still fairly new. As Swindon is a small place it also makes it cheaper for getting home after a night out.

Due to there being a large number of interns there is always something happening. there are leisure centres and gyms that have a variety of sports clubs and there is also football teams that are made up of Intel employees and they play on the evenings.