Intern Content Scientist Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Sparx. I found the work both interesting and challenging and it was a real bonus living with the other interns. This allowed us to get to know each other really well and build a strong relationship with them. As a result, we were happy to do things socially and it made a big positive difference living in Exeter. The office also organised lots of socials, which allowed us to get to know all the staff really well.

Our input to the company was highly valued by all the people who worked at Sparx. They really appreciated our contribution and openly admitted that they could not have done so much without us. This was very reassuring to hear, as it made me feel useful to the company and as a result had a greater investment in the work which I was doing.

In the early stages of my placement, my supervisor was excellent as giving me recurring feedback on the work which I was producing. This was ideal, as it allowed me to improve my work quickly and achieve a higher standard of content. Though this feedback was seemingly somewhat lacking in the middle weeks of my internship, at the end I was given a detailed summary and feedback at the end, which was not only useful to know but summarised the staff's impression of myself as a staff member and gave me areas to improve upon, which I have aimed to do so.

There was always a constant flow of work to keep me busy during my internship. Sparx were excellent early in the placement, where they put on a variety of introductory workshops and tutorials to get us used to the software which is used. I was given a single project to work on through my time, which kept me busy, but if there was ever a point where I was reliant upon someone, there was plenty more work besides. Not only were such tasks numerous, they were also diverse and so allowed me to get a very good impression of the company as a whole.

I was given an individual project to complete during my time, meaning that I had a lot of responsibility ensuring that the work which I did was correct and useful. During my time there, Sparx also hosted a Summer Camp, and I was responsible in looking after a small number of them. In essence, I was given the same level of responsibility as any permanent member of staff.

Though I was unaware of it at the time, the skills I have developed have really helped me in my degree studies. One of the most important skills I learnt was time management and providing realistic deadlines. This helped in my degree studies and beyond, in allowing me to better plan my time. Another skill which I developed was in communication. After having little experience in a business setting previously, this experience provided an excellent platform to develop my communication skills and ensure that I was clear and concise in what I was saying.

The atmosphere was excellent, everyone in the office was welcoming and amazingly friendly. Not only did I get to know the staff as colleagues, but also as friends which helped in terms of work. The relaxed atmosphere made me feel at ease as soon as I stepped foot in the office and as such I felt as if I could approach any member of staff and ask their advice on any matter of topics. The atmosphere which I experienced was excellent and by far the best atmosphere I had felt in a working environment.

The internship was really well organised. In the first week, we were given a variety of presentations and workshops to introduce us to the software which Sparx used, which proved useful throughout the weeks. Socials were also regularly organised, allowing the interns to get to know people at the office as well as the local area. We each were given a project to complete, encompassing the majority of our time during the placement. However, if there was ever a break in this, other tasks had been organised to ensure we were always busy.

At the end of the internship, Sparx provided me with a personalised feedback form saying both what I did well and some areas for personal improvement. This was a very good idea as it allowed me to notice some of my current limitations and aim to improve on them throughout the following months and years. This document included feedback from all members of staff so was a good personal summary. On the internship, much of the development was done on the job. The hosting of a Summer Camp really helped to develop me content creation skills and has proved surprisingly useful in my further studies.

Sparx have lots of opportunities which people can get involved in. They were open in advertising positions within the company but also allowed people to discuss career prospects openly and frankly, providing interns with very useful advice, which will be used regardless of getting a job with them or not.

Due to the fact that we lived together as interns, we got to know each other very well and as a result there was a good sense of comradery between us. During these eight weeks we went from strangers to good friends and were more than happy socialising together. Exeter is a wonderful place to live and explore and there was lots to do to keep us busy.

Sparx provided the accommodation for us, so in terms of cost of rents, this much we did not discover. Otherwise, the cost of buying food was much like that in any other city - not London! I noticed no difference in living costs between Exeter and normal.

Exeter has a strong nightlife scene and was thoroughly enjoyable. There are numerous bars and clubs and always more to find if you look hard enough. The standard of the bars was very high and I always enjoyed a night out in the city regardless of where that may be.

There were sports facilities next to the office and these were well used by members of staff. Almost every evening there was some sport happening outside on a casual basis and this was very good in getting to know more people in the area. Due to the location of the city, it is not too difficult to get to the coast, where there are countless more activities to get involved with.