Summer Intern - Building Consultancy Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement with Savills, I learnt so much about the industry I am going into and how the business works. I was based in the Building Consultancy team, this I came to realise covered many different areas of work which I got to get involved in. I had the opportunity to visit plenty of sites from larger projects to house refurbishments; this is something I really enjoyed as it gets you out of the office and see everything first hand.

I got on really well with everyone within my team. It is a big company and it could be easy to feel lost, but I never got that feeling. Savills has a very flat structure, so you’ll be working alongside graduates to directors, this could have been daunting, but they were all very welcoming. I got on really well with the other interns on the placement and went on a few socials and meet ups which was a real bonus.

I was given a mentor on the first day, this was one of the graduates. It was their job to give you jobs to do and organise stuff for you to do. In terms of support, everyone within the team was helpful if I needed anything and a lot of the information I needed I could find online. But at no point did I feel like I was out of my depth.

Some days I had a lot to do, other days I did find I didn't have much to do. This was due to the how much work was coming into the team and it was hard at times for them to give me stuff to do (as I had no technical knowledge of anything). Some days I was out on different sites throughout the whole day which was really good.

There is only so much a summer intern can do with little if no technical knowledge within building consultancy, although there were some things I worked on that I was given a lot of responsibility. I was even allowed to go to a site on my own once to inspect and take photos to build up a photographic schedule of conditions.

I feel that I have learnt more about Building Surveying on this month placement that I have done so far in my two years of University. I feel that the information I have picked up along the way will be extremely useful to me in my final year of studies. On that note, the contacts I have made will be useful for later down the line when I come to write my dissertation and need to produce questionnaires.

I think it was a very relaxed office in comparison to some. The general atmosphere was pleasant and everyone seemed friendly. There was a nice kitchenette area on my floor with a TV, so we could all watch the rugby when it was on. The office is very large, with 800 or so staff, so you only really get to know your own team, but that is to be expected.

I think it wad really well organised, the HR did a great job! There was around 20 or so interns at the same time as me and they had us meet up for departmental review talks, which were interesting to see and learn other aspects of the business. They also organised some socials, including going to play rounder's in regents park (with a few crates of beer and bottles of wine!), this was great fun and a great way to get to know all the other interns. At times I didn't have enough work to do, but this was down to my individual team not the placement structure.

As it was only a one month summer placement the company cant and don't have the chance to invest in you, so this is somewhat hard to judge. They did ask me to stay on for the rest of summer but I couldn't do this sadly. I would say however, that the people in my team did invest there time in me and for someone who is not bringing anything to the business they spent some time teaching me various aspects.

Very good, they offer a great graduate scheme and having done a summer placement with them, I feel it puts me in a good place to try secure a graduate job. It will be nice to know the people taking your interview! The graduate scheme is a rotational placement which is unlike other companies and this is good so you get to see more of the business. All the graduates I have spoken to have really enjoyed themselves as well.

They organised some socials, one was just drinks at the office during the first week. This is a great way to break the ice with the other interns. The other social was going to play rounder's in regents park (with a few crates of beer and bottles of wine!), this was great fun and a great way to get to know all the other interns more. It ended up with going for more drinks in London.

I commuted from Reading to London everyday. This is fairly expensive, costing me just under £500 for a month travel card, which took a big chunk out of the payslip. On top of this, London is inherently expensive for food and drinks, with lunch costing me £5 at least. What became very expensive was when I went our for drinks after work!

I only went to a few pubs and stuff, never went out in London while I was there! don't think I would be able ton afford it anyway!

I myself didn't get involved in anything but many of the other interns did. A few played for the Savills hockey team on a Wednesdays and another intern had a whole day off to go join their teams rowing competition.