Geoscience Intern Review

I absolutely loved my internship with BP. I was given real responsibility from the start, contributing towards the goals of the team by carrying out my own project. The work was difficult and there was a steep learning curve but everyone around me was there to teach me anything that I needed to know. I also had the opportunity to get involved with other activities such as hosting a shadow student and a volunteering day clearing foliage at a nearby nature park. I was mentally challenged throughout which was very rewarding as I gained many new skills and increased in confidence. The people that work at BP are all incredibly friendly and willing to help and this added to the experience.

I felt very valued by my team especially as it was clear that the work I had done would be used in the near future when the team was presenting to management. The team were very inclusive and treated me like a full time employee. I was invited to team lunches and team events outside of work which made me feel truly valued. Many others who were not in my team were interested in my project and asked me how I was doing which also made me feel very valued.

My supervisor was very helpful especially at the start. I was given an overview of the programs that I needed to use and an idea of how to get started. My supervisor was always open to questions and would help when needed. I was also given a lot of freedom to be creative in my work which was daunting at first but I got used to this independent working style as I gained confidence in my ability.

I was busy most days with my project but there was time to get involved in other activities such as attending lunch and learns where you learn about different parts of the business. I also had time to prepare for each of the reviews during the internship. I was never stressed, just satisfied with the level of work expected. If I wasn't busy then I could easily find something to do to help my development such as reading about a relevant topic or arranging meetings with people from across the business to find out about the company.

I was given a lot of responsibility as I was put completely in charge of my own project focusing on one part of the world. I presented my work to the team at fortnightly meetings and they gave suggestions on which direction to move next with the project. The work that I did actively contributed to the goals of my team and will be used in the future to help make decisions. I was treated the same as any full time employee.

The best skill that I developed was confidence in myself and my work. There are so many opportunities to present in front of audiences of different skill level and this meant I became very good at communicating technical knowledge on many levels. I also learned how to use a number of computer programs that will be very useful back at university and in my future career. I also learned how to manage my time effectively which will be helpful in all aspects of life. Finally, I developed a greater appreciation for safety as this is a key consideration at BP.

The office is quiet and focused which means you can get stuck into your work easily. People are friendly and open to questions but most of the general chit-chat took place in the coffee break areas or at lunch. Everyone is extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming and no question is a silly question.

The internship is well structured with an introductory two days followed by 11 weeks in which you undertake a project. You are given specific objectives to complete throughout your time. You are assessed at a number of points throughout the internship and given lots of feedback for improvement. There were a number of organised events such as volunteering day, a farewell dinner and a poster competition.

We were given a development session half-way through the internship based around ways of working and emotional intelligence. This was very helpful. We were also given two online training modules to do with code of conduct. Most of the training and development came through completing the actual project objectives and there were many chances to make your own opportunities.

I Have not yet found out if I have been offered a job but will accept if I am offered one as it is a great place to work. I was told I performed well in my assessment.

There were a few events organised between the interns (barbecue, drinks) but it was difficult to find a central location for all the interns to socialise as we were spread out across London as there is not set accommodation for the internship. There were some social events organised for us such as a boat party and farewell dinner which were great.

The area around Sunbury is cheap for living but you have to go further into London to find good places to socialise and this can be expensive. It is costly to pay for transport from outside Sunbury to the site.

There is not really a good nightlife around Sunbury/Feltham so we mostly socialised in Richmond or Putney where there are activities and bars.

There were many opportunities to get involved with volunteering, working on committees and sports outside of the main project. This was great as it added even more diversity into the job and gives great opportunities for meeting new people.