Meet Charlotte, Business & Enterprise Year-Long Intern

What inspired you to choose a year-long internship?

I wanted to gain some experience within the corporate workplace, as I knew university would provide me with the qualifications, but not necessarily any hands-on experience within a large organisation. Probably one of the main things that attracted me to Rolls-Royce was its reputation. It’s a company that I’d always been aware of and knew had a really strong reputation, both as a business and an employer. Although I wasn’t specifically looking to go into a role within the engineering industry, I was looking for an opportunity where I could gain experience in a large organisation, develop professionally and work with a wide range of people.

What skills and experiences have been most valuable?

I’ve learnt that you can’t communicate the same way with everyone, so it’s important to adapt your communication style depending on who you’re speaking to. I’ve also had opportunities to present updates on my project in leadership meetings, which has really helped me become more confident communicating with different audiences. I have also had many experiences that are completely out of my comfort zone and have stretched me, allowing me to grow and learn. These include creating and presenting at our town hall and speaking in a lecture while supporting with the induction for students at the University of Derby.

How has your responsibility grown?

From day one I was able to work on projects that had a huge impact and were of high value. I think this is the main thing that shocked me about this internship: I assumed I would be working on low value projects, or assisting a colleague with their project, but actually I lead on multiple projects that all will have a huge impact. It feels great to be trusted and actually having responsibility creates a space where you can learn and develop.

Are there any highlights that stand out?

I think a highlight for me would be receiving a Power of You award within our Global Emerging Talent town hall. It felt great for my work to be recognised on such a huge stage. Another highlight would be pitching an idea I had that would support with the attraction of our candidates to our global Head of Emerging Talent, and receiving her approval to launch this as a project.

What support has helped you develop?

I have a great team around me that are so welcoming and supportive but also push me to do my best. My manager is great, we have a one-to-one each week to catch up about work and my projects, but this is also a time for us to talk about non-work related things too, to ensure my wellbeing is okay. My team and manager have created a real safe space at work to speak up if you need help, I will always ask questions if I don’t understand something and I find it easy to ask for support if I need help.

What does a typical week look like?

I work from home Monday and Friday and then from the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. However, I can change these days each week depending on what I have on, but I usually stick to this routine.

I enjoy going to the gym after work, especially when I work from home, as I can be at my gym 10 minutes after finishing. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, and being able to fully switch off from work on the weekends means I can really enjoy this quality time.

What happens at the end of your internship?

I will go into my final year of university, whilst in this final year, I will apply for post-graduate jobs. I’d love to come back to Rolls-Royce, and specifically my team, so I will be applying for the Enterprise Skills Accelerator programme at Rolls-Royce and looking for any direct entry routes back into the company.

Are there any common misconceptions you’d like to address?

One of the biggest misconceptions, and one I had myself, was that Rolls-Royce was a predominantly male space. I thought I would feel out of place, and working with mostly  men was something I would have to adapt to. However, I was completely wrong. I am surrounded by women constantly. I would say most of my team are women, which is great to see.

Anything you’d like to add about your experience?

I never considered a yearlong placement as part of my degree. However; I am so glad I did. The last few months have been great for me. Not only have I developed professionally, but I have also developed personally in ways I didn’t think I ever would. I feel as though this placement will really shape my future and provide me with the first steppingstone for a successful career.