Alumni Relations Intern Review

There was not one part of my internship that I did not enjoy. Every task was interesting, and therefore I enjoyed and valued everything.

The alumni team at the University of Southampton were the most welcoming group of people I have ever met. It is daunting to join a well developed team, especially with the stereotypes about interns, but every member of the team went out of their way to welcome and help me,

Despite the department going through a massive transitional phase with many members of the team leaving, and new members joining, the guidance provided to me by senior members of the team was exceptional. There was always someone to ask questions and it was always very clear who was available to me.

I was given enough work so that I was busy all the time, which is just how I like to work. If I completed everything I needed to, there was always someone that needed something doing, so I was never bored. I actually enjoyed the times when I had lots of tasks to do - I felt I was developing my multi-tasking skills.

Throughout my internship I was in charge of sub-teams and responsible for our actions at Open Days and Graduation, as well as co-organising the biggest event in the alumni calendar where over 120 alumni came back to campus was a full day and evening of activities. I organised an event abroad from the research stages to the post event analysis. Clearly I was given many very responsible tasks.

I feel the skills I learned during my internship will be useful for all future activities. Even small things, from learning how to write and email or professional letter, all the way up to purchasing through technical software and updating websites. I was given so many tasks, all of which were vary varied, so I managed to develop a brilliant skills set.

There was a very positive atmosphere in the office. Everyone that worked there was approachable and friendly, and clearly enjoyed their jobs. We celebrated birthdays and other news, and people often brought in cakes for the whole office to enjoy. This really fostered a community feel in the office.

The job was exactly as had been specified on the job description, and on the first day I was given a list of all tasks that needed to be done and an exact timetable of when they were to be completed by, Regular meetings with management allowed us to assess my progress and discuss any issues.

I was allowed to participate in many very responsible tasks, as the department felt the skills I would develop would be extremely valuable to me. I went on training courses to learn more about the technical side of the job, and had meetings with the sub-departments of the team to discover more about the internal workings of the office. If there was something I wanted to do, which was not on my list, I was still allowed to do it, as they wanted me to gain as much as I could from the internship.

I have been told that as soon as I finish my degree I am welcome back in the department, and that during the next year whilst I am completing my degree, they would like to continue to employ me for small projects and events.

There were a couple of socials, but not many people attended.

No different to my home town.

As Southampton is so large, there were many places to go out in the evenings.

There is lots to do in Southampton, and quite a few staff socials