Roasting Fundamentals Intern Review

Leading a research project to develop roasting knowledge creation. You choose the direction with help from your team. Performing pilot plant trials and then analysing the data. Writing reports to summarise findings. Communicating findings through presentations to your manager and team leaders. Assisting with pilot plant trials on new coffee extraction technologies.

I developed many skills while with JDE. They are leading the industry so it’s always good to learn from the best. They have an incredibly knowledgable team that helped me to develop myself both professionally and personally. Skills developed are not limited to, but what you can expect as a minimum: Report writing, confidence, presenting, public speaking, teamwork, communication, problem solving, and initiative. You will have examples for all of these points too.

At JDE, you get a healthy amount of responsibility. With this responsibility you develop and learn. I guarantee you will come out of a placement at JDE with lots of stories to tell in any job interview situation. This is down to getting responsibilities on multiple projects and your main project.

During placement, I could always arrange meetings with my manager in Utrecht, or my local supervisor in the UK. Not only this, the research and development team is open minded and interested in problem solving so if you need help, there are many associates that would assist!

I joined just after the company went through a re-structure which meant that there were things that even managers were still figuring out. It felt quiet at the start but once the vision and purpose became more clear, things started looking up. Monthly coffee mornings to switch off and talk to your associates over games or cakes or both. Felt like a close team by the end of placement which I was sad to leave.

I loved it. I had a thoroughly enjoyable and purposeful project. It had a direct impact on the business which made it very fulfilling. The team I was in was close and our meetings always had a positive energy towards our own personal lives and towards work. I had a great work-life balance.

Yes

If you are enthusiastic towards problem solving and learning, you will fit in just fine. Just be yourself and enjoy it. Try to get as many opportunities to develop yourself as possible, the company will provide help to you. My impression of JDE was that they weren’t only there to get help from the interns but they wanted to develop you and watch you grow.