This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
The supply chain placement was very enjoyable to experience. I had autonomy over a specific project and I learnt valuable skills throughout. Tesco provided so much support and there was such a positive attitude towards the interns. It truly made you feel valued and the social side of the function allowed you to gain valuable contacts and relationships at all levels of the business.
Tesco's; specifically, the supply chain function has been incredibly accommodating whilst I have been completing my internship and I have made friends in various aspects of the business and have become close with people I never expected to bond with. I believe this is due to the open nature of colleagues and by extension the ethos the company promotes overall.
I sat with my line manager most days, and although she was busy with her own analytical project she always made time and accommodated my needs, I couldn't have asked for more support. Further to this the busy system and by extension the greater supportive Tesco community were always willing to help.
If any area I feel my placement could be marked down upon it would be the level of work, however this isn't necessarily Tesco's fault thus I haven't marked down heavily. Having control of a project means you are as busy as your personal aims are high. This caused me to constantly find I had a massive but manageable workload. There were times I felt behind and overwhelmed however this is to be expected in any new job role.
I was in a position in which I had control over a project and it meant I could explore any area within the project scope. I was fully trusted to produce work that would be valuable to Tesco, however there were some overall steering if you veered away from the general desire Tesco's had envisioned.
I have developed countless skills in the short time I have been at the company. With them having varying importance levels for my future, my ability to work in more effective ways is a valuable skill I shall always keep with me and I have learnt coding skills which can be used in any data analyst role I may find myself in.
The Company
There's a very 'silicone valley' like feel to the Tesco offices with friendly faces, business casual attire and flexible working hours. It created a very organic and friendly environment to be a part of and was a very positive place to work.
There were some slight issues with the HR systems at the time of the interns joining and for the majority of interns it was quickly addressed I had slight issues due to coming from a Tesco store so my employee account created some extra problems however; these were also sorted relatively quickly.
I learnt various skills and have been heavily encouraged to partake in different learning and training opportunities. These courses ranged from technical skills such as coding to health and well-being practices such as mindfulness. The only caveat I would give is that you get out of the internship what you put in.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
Company Parties/Events
Working from home
I would love to stay with the company following my graduation, the only reason this score isn't higher is due to the fact I have not yet completed my placement and I am unaware as to the company's views towards my personal progression. However, if I am wanted I shall take that opportunity.
The Culture
In my time at the Tesco's head office I have partaken in a team day various socials and been able to partake in various sports on a regular basis. The opportunities are very vast however as I said previously it is based on what you put in personally.
This depends whether you choose to live in London and commute to Welwyn Garden City or you live in a surrounding area. I opted for the latter for the internship program and lived in Stevenage which is relatively cheap, the only issue I faced was the hike in rent price due to the short term arrangement of the placement.
Welwyn Garden City itself is quite quiet however it is 20 minutes on a train to London, thus the nightlife can be incredibly good. It's positioned in an area which enables you to take advantage of London but can also have quieter nights elsewhere if that's what you prefer.
As I said previously there are a whole host of activities to partake in if you are inclined in such a way. However there is also no shame if you don't involve yourself if you are a more introverted person.
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
London
August 2019