Placement Review at Logica

The Role

Role Description

Initial coding in xml mark-up on project for a financial insurance company client, eventually moving onto more complex component development and defect resolution. Responsible for quality assurance process during initial development, and responsible for training new recruits and graduates towards the later stages of placement.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

Work could at times be repetitive, though this was removed with the introduction of more complex programming towards months 5/6. Tight deadlines meant plenty of overtime available.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Initially very isolated from others, but when team was scaled down, a good working environment was established, with all colleagues willing to help one another in any circumstance.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Management helped me to settle and provided extensive support and advice when required. Also provided advice towards any potential job opportunities in the future.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

Peaks and troughs. Some days were too busy to comprehend, full of near unmanageable bottlenecks. Others were very slow moving, with little work to do, usually a bit of an eye of the storm, these would be followed by a sharp rise in work as defects were found in a software release.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Was as responsible as all other developers in my team, be they grads or established coders. A proactive nature was essential to make sure you got the most out of your work.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I have seen a tremendous increase in my technical ability plus professionalism. Additional management skills have given me the self-motivation to go out and find things out and really get stuck into the final push to get that degree. Such a position would not have been feasible had I gone straight to level 3 upon completing by 2nd year of study.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

Generally fun and friendly, but simultaneously professional. A little bit grim when it was rainy outside.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Served well enough to get the students working quickly and effectively, but didn't really need much help from the set up after that point.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

I learnt a lot of new skills from day-to-day work, but didn't enrol on any workshops or otherwise. Training in a large skill was provided verbally by an experienced colleague where it was necessary.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

• There were no perks with this placement

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

No UK based graduates are being taken on from 2009 as Logica looks to outsource these resources. Disappointing strategy, however, managers and other colleagues are keen to work with me after graduation, and the opportunity to work under them as a contractor or consultant rather than a graduate is a perfectly reasonable outcome given the right circumstances.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

Being based in Leatherhead, I didn't get to meet any other placement students beyond my first induction week, most of them were based in London. As such I preferred to socialise out of work with friends at home and developed relationships with them. I did meet a few good names within the company who I would be happy to have a professional relationship with in the future.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

There were a few pubs which do good lunch food, these are comparable with the natinoal average.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

A night out in Leatherhead constitutes Wetherspoons until about 10:30. Not my cup of tea considering how close London is.

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

Had a couple of e-mails on one or two social events, but preferred to keep to my circle of friends.

Review 14/16 for Logica

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