Summer Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship in Housing Consultancy. The placement opened my mind to working in the residential side of the real estate industry which made it a useful experience. The work that I was involved with was varied and interesting and there was plenty of social opportunities such as drinks and rounders to interact with fellow interns and current graduates.

I was given a variety of work that was both engaging and meaningful, My work was often sent to clients and as such I felt that I was a valuable member of the team. I regularly worked with associate directors and directors all of whom were welcoming and approachable. The team regularly involved me in team drinks and the such like and I have really felt involved with the group throughout.

At the start of the internship I was shown through the various methods and systems that I needed to use during my time in the team and throughout the internship I was given individual support on tasks by the lead on that project, all of whom were very approachable and helpful. I also benefited from attending tuition sessions with the team on how to use particular databases and systems. Once I got into the swing of things I was able to work much more independently.

I have been rather busy throughout the internship and have never been left wondering what to do. I established strong lines of the communication with the team and they kept on track with my progress on tasks and were always ready to give me something new when I came to the end of a task. Nonetheless, I have not been overwhelmed with work and have had time to engage with social events.

The tasks I was given included report writing and providing market commentaries, both of which were sent directly to clients following being reviewed by members of the team. Thus the work that I produced was used and valued by clients which meant that I had a good level of responsibility. I felt that I had enough responsibility to feel valued but not so much that I felt overwhelmed.

I have honed my knowledge of valuation during my internship which I hope to take back and apply in my final year of my degree in Real Estate. Also the work has been a useful precursor to the type of work that I will be completing as a graduate surveyor which I am sure will benefit me at that stage. I have also developed a familiarity with different systems and databases which will benefit me greatly once I start on a graduate role.

The office had a buzz about it. People regularly conversed about both work and general affairs such as the news and life, and there was always people on the phones. This made it a lively atmosphere to be in. I felt comfortable chatting with other members of my team and staff in the kitchen spaces. People would often chat to you around the office. It was also easy making phone calls in this environment as you don’t feel like everyone is listening in.

The placement was well organised and the graduate team maintained regular contact with interns. We had a range of events organised and the HR team often got in touch to remind us about when these events were running and what they would entail. Before the internship I was made aware of what team I would be in and the key contacts in the team. The whole application process was smooth and easy to navigate.

Alongside learning a lot during the work within the team I also benefited from attending departmental overviews. These talks gave me a greater understanding of the different functions within the company and the role of a graduate within the various teams. My team also offered me extra tuition in using company systems and external databases which will benefit me in future.

I plan to pursue graduate opportunities within the firm and I am hopeful to secure a permanent position at Savills. My team have also discussed the opportunity for me to join them as a graduate thus the employment prospects are very appealing. I have enjoyed the ethos of the firm and would like to forge a career at Savills.

The interns regularly met for lunch and chatted during this time. I would say that it wasn’t as sociable as some of my previous placements and that we didn’t for instance go out for drinks as much as I have on other schemes. I do however feel that this was a matter of the individual circumstances of members of the group as they were unable to stay out in an evening and not a reflection of the firm. When we had organised events they were generally more sociable.

London is expensive and everyone knows that. Commuting in is also expensive. Drinks are pricey and buying lunch out every day will blow your tiny intern budget but nonetheless it is worth it for the experience that you gain and the fun that you can have. At the end of the day London is never going to be cheap.

It's London so of course the nightlife is good. The Savills office is located on Margaret Street only a few minutes walk from Oxford Circus and of course the Loop bar. There are plenty of pubs, clubs and bars nearby so there's plenty of different places to go and socialise. The Loop is however a personal favourite.

There wasn’t a lot of opportunities to get involved with events outside of work which I would note as a downside of the placement. However you can’t expect that this always be the case when you only join a firm temporarily and there seems to be plenty to get involved with once you join the firm as a graduate.