Strategic Programs Office Intern Review

My work placement has been great, generally I prefer working to academic study so this has given me the ability work in an environment where I feel I can make more meaningful contributions that in part time jobs. It has given me so many opportunities to develop as a person and has definitely been one of the best decisions I have made.

As an intern it can sometimes be hard to know were you can add value, but my colleagues has been super encouraging. Regardless of my experience they have expressed their trust in my ability to complete complex tasks and regardless of their position shown their gratitude to the skills I can offer.

At the start of my placement the support from my manager and supervisors was quite limited due to people being on holiday but I think this encouraged me to use my initiative and go outside of my comfort zone as well as showing me the reality of work. Throughout the year the support and guidance has been at a level that has been right for me and ultimately has allowed me to develop as a person. I would say my manager and supervisors gave me guidance to make my own decisions using skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.

My daily tasks and level of busyness could vary depending on the projects I was involved in and the areas I could add value to. I would have been nice to have a steady flow of work but this doesn't reflect the reality of most jobs and there is always something to be done its just a matter of using your initiative and getting involved in projects and understanding where you can add value.

During my placement I had a large amount of responsibility, from my personal performance to driving real projects that impact massive areas of the business. During the first few months I was able to travel to different parts of Northern Europe to present and train different departments and teams. Looking back I am shocked at how much responsibility I was given but I think it demonstrates how much SAP value their interns and how much each intern can contribute to the company given the right opportunities.

The skills I have learnt will assist me way beyond university. I think doing a placement fast tracks your maturity and has taught me skills I will use at every stage of my career. Going back to university I will have a better grasp on prioritizing tasks and stress management, it has also improved my resilience and has taught me that perfectionism can be inefficient. This placement has given me an insight into the working world and has made me feel so much more prepared for life after university.

The atmosphere in the office is really friendly, everyone is happy to help. The office is surprisingly relaxed we have a variety of facilities on site such as a free gym, free lunch, coffee shop, prayer and massage room. The office is also open planned so it’s a nice environment to go to every day and there are a lot of options around flexible working which I didn’t expect. With such a variety of people working in the office there isn’t a sense of one particular dress code, everyone can be individual and work in a way that is best for them.

The organisation of the internship has been really accommodating and flexible. We have two weeks of on-boarding and then regular catch up calls to discuss any projects or issues. We also have group chats and social events which keep connectivity between the cohort. As a large company each team has a different set up but I think the cohort has been able to keep touch points with each individual to ensure everyone is getting the most out of their placement. It has also been really responsive to internal and external changes that have impacted the company.

The company has invested a massive amount of resources into my development. Technical resources such as a phone, laptop and headset were allocated to me to ensure I have the right equipment to do the best in my role. The company has also paid for a variety of subscriptions and licenses which have broadened my hard skills, I have also been allowed to sign up to online courses and encouraged to attend external career advise days. I have been allowed to travel to 6 different countries and work with a number of different team which has contributed massively to my personal development.

For me SAP really appeals as a future employment prospect, because the company is so large there are a number of different career paths I could take and also have the ability to move locations which is something that only a global company can offer. The people within SAP are committed to nurturing talent and career paths and have a variety of benefits which a lot of other employers simply don’t offer. SAP also has core values that resonate with my own which is something that I look for in an employer.

With a cohort of 70 interns the social scene was really good. Socials were done every Thursday, although Feltham isn’t that exciting, Richmond and Clapham were usually were events were held. Personally I didn’t attend many of the socials as I lived at home outside of London but there was always the option to go if I wanted to and I never felt like an outsider going along to them if I didn’t usually go.

I lived at home so couldn’t comment on the cost of living but I would drive into the office from Reading and be able to use the free office car park which made travel relatively cheap for me. Petrol could cost between £30-£50 a week depending on traffic. There are also good transport links to the office via the train and free shuttle buses which made going out pretty cheap and easy.

Feltham itself didn’t offer much but being close to London the nightlife was good. Personally I didn't go out much, but there is a variety of areas around London you can easily get to which offer venues and activities that can appeal to everyone. As a cohort we didn’t always go for drinks, meals, bowling and cinema nights were also arrange.

The cohort had social events every week and there was a males football team outside of work. Other clubs were also available such as choir and guitar lessons. Free gym classes and gym facilities were also offered which was really popular with the interns and other employees. With the office being in London other people also found local activities like dance and sports clubs to join outside of work.