This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
It was quite difficult towards the beginning of the year as this was an entirely new professional environment. However my colleagues were all very supportive and assisted me in reaching the work level that is required by the company. A lot of the work was rewarding and placement sudents can be delegated a lot of responsibility which I found very motivating.
Almost straight after starting the placement year, I had been given a lot of responsibility. This showed how much my colleagues relied on my work results, which was very motivational.
My supervisor did not always have much time to sit down and work with me on projects. However he made it very clear that I could speak to him if I was struggling - support was always offered when I asked for it.
There was always something to do during my year at NTCE, however there was never so much work that I felt stressed out. It was a good balance.
I was given a lot of responsibility from my supervisor. This included work that I was able to work on independently. However my supervisor would ask about progress and how I felt about the work load.
In my opinion this year is invaluable in terms of experience. It helped me understand the work level that was required of me and what it was like to work in a global company with different cultures. I was able to work with a number of different departments on certain projects so I will be able to use knowledge of that in my professional life.
The Company
Relaxed yet professional.
A lot of the systems had already been set up for me by the time I had arrived, however some were not which slowed the process somewhat.
I was not completely aware of training that was available to me, however I could have done some research into it myself rather than waiting for it to appear in front of me.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
Above 25 days holiday
The graduate scheme looks very enticing.
The Culture
The level was ok, and there was a social group for the graduates and placement students. However it was not always active and it went a bit quiet towards the second half of the year.
The cost of living is affordable and the salaray given to placement students covered all costs. It may be better to live in a house/flat with more people.
There is plenty of nightlife available - Lloyds, Vodka Revolutions and Wonderworld - however those are far from the best clubs I've been to.
There is a lot to do in Milton Keynes and the surrounding area, however parking is costly.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Engineering, Automotive Engineering
East Midlands
July 2014