HR Executive Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed working at Pernod Ricard UK for my placement year. The role offered a large amount of responsibility and many opportunities within my department as well as within the wider business. I have been able to improve skills I had before the placement as well as gain skills I did not in a safe and exciting working environment.

Pernod Ricard is a very close knitt company and everyone is friendly and approachable. My team took me under their wing and made me feel valued. I was able to express my own ideas and opinions from the beginning of the placement and I felt as though I could talk to anyone, at any level in the business, comfortably.

I had two managers during my placement whose styles varied drastically. One manager was more supportive in the everyday working environment, where as the other was less involved but still as supportive when it came to personal development and any issues I was facing in the role. Once I was comfortable in the role, the support I received became more on an 'as and when' needed basis which worked for my personal working style.

The role I had varied based on what was happening in the business as to how busy it could be at times. Changes in the team meant I was able to take on more responsibility but it also meant I was very busy at some times. When I found myself in quieter periods, I was able to focus on larger projects that were not urgent so I was never bored.

During my placement I was given a large amount of responsibility, including my processes that were mine to own and run. It did not feel like the stereotypical 'placement' you hear of and instead was a job role. There were key aspects of the role that were relied on heavily by other people and I enjoyed being able to take responsibility for that.

I think the placement with Pernod Ricard UK has allowed me to develop many skills that will help me with my degree but also with working life after university. I learned a lot about the Microsoft Office Suite I did not know before, along with sales training and presentation skills. I was also able to develop people skills I did not have before through seeing situations and how people react to those. One of the biggest has been learning how to communicate most effectively in the working environment.

The atmosphere of the office varied greatly depending on the time of year and the amount of people who were in the office. Sometimes, during peak periods when there was a lot of work, the atmosphere could become tense, however, there were always opportunities to work elsewhere or to go on a walk around the park. It was rarely like this. There are a lot of team celebrations and the hot desking means you can sit where you would like and with whom you would like.

I think it was organised well overall, however, because the role was so like going into a job, there was not a lot of organisation that meant all the interns could come together and share experiences/issues in an environment. A check in would have been a nice touch that would have allowed anything that needed airing to be aired.

I think PRUK invested enough into me that I was able to increase many of the skills I was lacking before I completed the placement, however, there were some opportunities interns did not get a chance to partake in which would have been nice. We received a good induction into the company and took part in the psychometric testing.

I think if there were opportunities for me to come back to the company, I would definitely consider them deeply before making a choice, however, I worked within a small team where there is not an opportunity for me to come back.

There was a really good social scene amongst the other placement students and some of the full-time employees at PRUK. We were able to come together as a group to support each other and spend time together. Early finishing hours on Fridays meant we could go to the local bar, and often would see other employees there who would come and sit with us. This created a really nice, friendly atmosphere.

West London is not a cheap place to live and socialise, however, it is doable especially with the help of the student loan. There are options that cost less and you are able to have nights out or go to restaurants/bars after work as long as you are sensible with your money and maybe make small changes that mean you do not waste money.

The nightlife around the area was not the best, especially for students. The plus side was that it did not take long to go anywhere in Central London so it was always possible to go for a night out after drinking in a local bar/restaurant/pub. The bars around the area were good.

There was ample opportunity to get involved in activities on the park