HR Intern Review

I really enjoyed my internship. Intel provided a lot of benefits which made the placement enjoyable, but the job really kept me engaged, and was constantly changing, which was exciting. I learnt a lot, and was surprised by some of the projects I took on, which I wasn’t necessarily expecting before starting.

I really felt valued by my colleagues from the moment I started my internship. Even though I was new, my team really listened to what I had to say, as well as being incredibly approachable and understanding with my many questions. Intel really value all their colleagues, and interns are treated exactly the same as normal employees.

At Intel you are provided with lots of support, varying from group training exercises to 1:1s. Most interns are assigned a supervisor as well as their manager, in order to have that extra support system in place. The 6 week handover period really allows you to get the feel for the role, before the current intern leaves.

Interns are treated like any other full time employee, and with that comes the responsibility of managing your own time. You could actively seek projects if you felt you had the time available (which was encouraged by Intel) and if you were struggling to manage your time there was help available to you.

From the start of my placement I was given real responsibility. A lot of my role includes daily and weekly tasks that, if not completed, have quite serious consequences for Intel, especially in light of Brexit. Organizing recruitment events myself meant that the success of the event was directly due to my work, and because of this, when they went well I felt a huge amount of pride.

Putting into practice some of the knowledge and skills I have learnt at university meant that I could really begin to understand them. I found that I could question some of the most common theories when actually putting them into practice, as there is always elements that do not fit, meaning you have to adapt. Because of this, I am more analytical, which will assist me in completing my degree.

Intel have tried to get away from the usual corporate culture you would expect with a big organisation, by making it more relaxed. They have specific areas which are more comfy so that you can get away from your desk, as well as making it look more comfortable by putting artwork up and allowing you to personalize your desk.

As a new intern, I felt that the organisation was great. We had an open day prior to starting, which I really found useful, as it meant I wasn't as nervous on the first day. Intel actively encouraged us to get to know each other before, and were really good at providing us with all the information we needed to start placement.

Intel invests in the interns right from the start of the placement. We go through an intensive new employee training on our first day, and then there are regular follow up sessions after this. Intel offer the opportunity to undertake free and paid courses to develop you in your personal and academic life, all of which will be really beneficial when returning to university.

Graduate opportunities are not that common in HR, as a lot of the work is really sensitive, but there are other areas you can get into if you wanted to return. Despite this, the skills I have learnt will definitely set me up to succeed in other graduate roles, even if that is outside of Intel HR.

As there are a lot of interns at Intel, the social scene is quite active. During the 6 week handover there are various social activities planned, including nights out, day trips, and the handover all at the end. We also organised to go on a weekend away, which was great fun.

The cost of living is really reasonable in Swindon, as it't not a university town. Average rent can range from £250-£400, and the nightlife isn't that expensive either. Swindon is in the middle of Bath and London, which are slightly more pricey, but there are definitely cheaper alternatives available to interns.

The nightlife in Swindon itself isn't that great, especially in comparison to university. There are 2 clubs, which are similar to your standard home club. However, there are quite a lot of bars and restaurants to go out in, if you prefer going out for dinner and drinks instead of clubbing.

Intel have many committees that are outside of the normal job spec, such as Great Place to Work, as well as the intern charity, publishing, sports and social and inspire committees. Outside of Intel there are many opportunities, including an ice rink, water park and rock climbing to get involved in.