Reward & Policy Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at Siemens, I learnt new skills, challenged and progressed in current skills. From presenting to the HR Board, carrying out Listening groups across the UK in different divisions of the business, to gaining an insight into the Annual Pay Review, and being a core project team member for a retender process. From the beginning I felt like a valued member of the Reward & Policy team and will miss working for such a great company!

As soon as I started the placement I was made to feel part of the Reward & Policy team, and part of the HR team as a whole. Throughout the year the team felt more and more like a family!

My manager was really supportive throughout the placement, both for work and non-work related topics. I was given enough information to understand the tasks, but not too much that I was unable to provide my own ideas, and I never felt like a couldn't ask a question!

BUSY - but in a good way! I'm someone who couldn't not be busy and would hate to not have enough work to do, but Siemens keep you busy. Don't get me wrong, you still had time to breathe, but the multiple projects I was working on kept me busy on a daily basis,

A lot - I was surprised how early on the team trusted me with tasks and allowed me to take ownership. At Siemens Ownership Culture is important, being responsible for your actions as if the business is your own. Throughout the year I got the chance to step up in numerous projects and take a lead, which allowed me to challenge my skills but gave me the opportunity to progress.

Some of the training I received will be more business specific for when I leave university, Eg. SAP, and not something I would use when returning to my studies. However, the overall experience has made me see the HR world in a completely different perspective, and having gained this business knowledge I think I will view my academic modules differently.

The atmosphere was great, very social and laid back - as long as you were working and progressing with your projects. Everyone is very friendly, caring and fun to be around - it is NOT an office where you are expected to sit in silence!

The overall placement was well organized, despite a little issue with setting up IT at the beginning, being assigned to projects for support was well organized! I had monthly 1:1's with my manager to ensure everything was running smoothly, and mid-year and end of year reviews.

I felt I developed my skills a lot through the projects alone and gained a lot of knowledge based on reward & policy topics, including, share plans, flexible benefits, employment regulations, market trends and employee communications. I received training such as SAP, Communications, Umbraco, OneSRM. However, specifically to the placement, Siemens provides a 3 module Internship Development Programme, which teaches you all the things you wish you knew, but never get taught! For example, how to approach the CEO in the corridor, how to facilitate a meeting so that colleagues answer their own questions, and how to deal with obligation etc. This was really beneficial and I now feel confident to go into a business environment.

I loved my time at Siemens and really felt like part of the team, therefore I would love to return to Siemens in the future for employment.

In HR there was 4 other interns, not always based in Frimley, but when everyone was together we made time to grab some food or drinks. There is also other interns amongst the different departments which you get to meet and socialize with throughout the year.

I live nearby so didn't experience any difference in cost of living, however the salary is sufficient enough to live on in the area.

Minimal - in Frimley there isn't much apart from a local pub and pub quizzes. Local towns have more restaurants, pubs and a few clubs, but London is about 30-40 minutes away on the direct train from Farnborough (a nearby town).

At Siemens you are provided 2 volunteering days to volunteer at a charity or an organization Eg. helping at a Wildlife trust or talking about STEM at a local school. Also, at the Frimley site there are multiple charity days which involve external visitors, for example I participated in a mindfulness session which was run by a external instructor, there were multiple activities put on including an ice cream van which attended the site all day - what more could you want!