Group Food Commercial Buying Intern Review

My experience as a Support Office Intern was brilliant. I enjoyed the whole process - from the team I was working in, the project I was given to complete, the interaction with other interns and graduates, and the help I received from my line manager. It was a great job, and I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

Despite the fact that I had little experience working in Tesco stores, and was surrounded by people who had worked their whole lives in a store-capacity, I was made to feel very welcome. I felt that my work was actively and positively contributing to the team as a whole, and that they appreciated the work I did. I wasn't treated as 'just an intern'; I was treated with respect and valued. There was occasionally a divide, but on the whole it was very good.

This was a fairly mixed bag. The support I received from my line manager and project manager was outstanding. Throughout the whole process, I was given help, and felt that I could talk to them about any issues I was having. It always felt that they would make time for me if I needed it, despite how busy they were. The support from HR and a central level was less strong however. I didn't always feel like I was getting real help, and didn't feel as comfortable talking to them about my scheme.

I was fairly busy most days: going to various meetings, researching for my project, working with the other interns on a group project, interacting with my team, visiting stores etc. There were occasionally days when I didn't have much to do - however I learnt that there's always something you can fill your time with!

This was a particularly outstanding part of the internship. The responsibility I was given was immense, working on a project over 10 weeks with real and serious consequences for Tesco. I was responsible for arranging meetings, researching the project and following through with actions. I wasn't fully in charge, but that was a good thing - I think the internship balanced independence and assistance almost perfectly.

I think it's hard to truly describe how the skills will affect me until I return to university. However I know that I have changed as a result of this scheme, and my attitude to degree and society work has definitely improved. I feel more focused, confident and committed to my duties, and also feel that I've developed leadership qualities considerably. The skills I have learnt for my career progression have also been immense.

When all the members were in the office, the atmosphere was good. However, many of them were at stores on a daily basis - on a Friday it wasn't uncommon for me to be the only person in! The office could be a bit 'lad'- like at times, but it was a friendly group that joked around, got along and worked well together.

This score is perhaps unfair on the scheme as a whole. The organisation from a local level was fantastic, with our line manager booking in meetings in advance, ensuring we had regular contact with directors, and giving us a project brief from the start. However, the organisation from a central level was poor. I did not receive my offer letter for months, and had to chase up the company. I then received it after the deadline to accept the job had passed. There was little communication about accommodation for interns, with most being expected to find their own place to live: this was not acceptable for me. I was also not paid for nearly a month, despite submitting the correct information. Lots more could be done to improve this process. However I should state that once I got involved with my team, the organisation improved massively.

Again, this was another area where Tesco were brilliant. It was clear that they were investing in us for the future, and were happy to support us with our decisions. We were actively encouraged to seek out new departments, learn more about the business, and network. Some of us, despite being offered a position in the Support Office, are considering moving to another area of Tesco - we have had so much support from our teams, it's been brilliant.

It is not clear on the career websites, but one of the main perks of this job is that you will be offered a position on the Graduate Scheme,

This was one of the weakest parts of the internship. Personally I was able to meet up with several other interns out of work and socialise: however this was rare, and purely organised by us. For most people, the only interaction they had was with their own teams. The fault lies with the central HR team, who failed to organise group socials in the early weeks of the internship. All it would take would be an invitation to a casual drinks/social nearby, but this never happened.

I was lucky enough to live at home in London and commute, but for many people they had to pay for accomodation in Welwyn or Chesunt. London prices for nights out are ridiculously expensive, so if you're planning on going out there be prepared!

Welwyn is not renowned for its nightlife! There were some decent pubs, but ultimately it was not an exciting place to be based.

There were few activities outside of work, but this might have been because we were only with the company for 10 weeks, which is relatively a short amount of time. If you pursued it enough, you could find other activities to take part in.