Find out what our Guest Bloggers are getting up to. Throughtout the year we will be following the progress of our Guest Bloggers as they find a placement or keep us updated as to what they are doing on their placement. Click here to read all entries from our bloggers or click here to meet them.

So, what do I think after my first full week at Intel? There are a few main things that I’ve learnt about Intel since working here.

Firstly, Intel has an extremely friendly work culture. I’ve been completely overwhelmed by how friendly everyone has been since I’ve started. Everyone has been so helpful and welcoming that I already feel part of the team. No matter what their position is within the company, or how busy they are, everyone has been eager to meet me properly and have a one on one chat about how I’m settling in.

I’ve also learnt that Intel treats employees really well. Though it is a huge company, I don’t feel insignificant. Everyone is treated equally and as an intern I am given real responsibility. There’s plenty of employee perks too – like free gym use and free hot drinks!

Another thing I have discovered from working at Intel is that absolutely everyone speaks using acronyms. They are used almost every other word; it’s like they are speaking another language! I’m quickly trying to learn all these different terms and actually understand what they mean. It’s a bit daunting at first but everyone understands it takes a while to get used to.

My job role seems reasonably flexible which is great. There are obviously the central aspects of the job role, but Intel actually encourages you to shape your own role. I am encouraged to take on projects in areas that I am personally interested in, and have the opportunity to suggest new and innovative ideas to take my job further.

Overall, I’ve had a really good week. My role seems really relevant to my university course and I’m excited about the various opportunities it offers. I plan to take on many different projects and get as much experience out of this year as I can. It’s a really great help that there is a month handover period with the old interns. It means that I can ask all the silly or minor questions comfortably because I know they were in the exact same place last year.

I’ve already made some great friends and had some fun nights out with all the interns. With around 40 placement students at Intel I know this year is going to be fun. Basically, I’m looking forward to getting stuck in!