Placement Mechanical Engineer Review

Work was very real from the start, which was good, as it meant that I was not really bored at any time over the course of the placement. The work did get a little mind numbing (memories of sorting out A3 and A1 drawings come to mind), but there'll always be elements of any job that aren't ideal. All in all, the work was quite interesting but the office environment was really good!

Very valued. I was given work that was quite clearly going to be used in the immediate future and not just thrown away when I left. Also received regular feedback on work that I did, Colleagues were always ready to provide help and feedback and make the experience as rewarding as it was. The partners also took us out for lunch, which was a really good touch.

My supervisor sat opposite me, so if I had any problems she was more than willing to stop what she was doing and show me exactly what needed to be done. Other work colleagues were equally helpful with any questions that I had, from work-related queries to how to work the new coffee machine.

As busy as I wanted to be. I always had work to do, so could leave at 5.30 but tended to hang around later just simply because I wanted to. There was no pressure to either remain later or leave earlier, as long as you had done the work required of you by the end of the week. If I had too little work, then I could always go round and ask for some more.

I wouldn't say that I was running the show, but I was left to work independently. Help was readily available when I needed it, and I was allowed to dictate which departments I wanted to spend time in. It did feel a little constricting in that I was not given very much design freedom, but I guess that could not be helped due to the nature of the job. The work that I did do was either further developed by others or presented as it was to other companies, which emphasised the fact that I did receive some 'real life' work

There was an element of reinforcing previous knowledge, but the work I did was very different to what I had previously been exposed to as a Mechanical Engineering student. Still, the fact that I was able to demonstrate to myself that I still have the ability to learn and adapt quickly to different situations should stand me in good stead for the future.

Ideal for working. Relaxed, not stressed, but not distracting in any way. People were relatively laid back, but not so much so that no work was getting done. There were always people who had impending deadlines, so they would often plug in their headphones and get to work, and if people noticed you were busy, they would just leave you to get on with your work and not disturb or try to heap more work on to you.

Very well organised. There was a plan laid out for my first 3 weeks with the rest of my work to be determined later. There was sufficient structure for me not to feel lost at the start, while still providing scope for me to choose my work later on in the placement.

CPDs (Continual Professional Development) seminars were organised on a fairly regular basis, and open for me to attend. These sessions informed me about existing technologies, technologies on the horizon and scope for improvement of said technologies, as well as their current and estimated future impact on the industry and the environment

The work was not the most technical, especially initially, but the office environment is really conducive to work, while being very friendly. If you work reasonably hard and show an interest in what you are doing, then you will receive a job offer at the end of your placement. The partners were also quick to point out that once you are in the industry, there will be opportunities for you to develop your skills and gain knowledge, progress up the company and do more fulfilling work.

Yes, we went out for team drinks, had the summer office party, as well as the weekly Hoare Lea FC team, which played in a league of 3 other teams, made up from other architect/engineering firms in the vicinity. The matches weren't overly competitive, but it was a great opportunity to meet more new people, and at the end of the season (ie after 12 weeks) the teams all went for drinks. All in all, a very good social scene at the company.

London is expensive, so rent, eating out, going out can be really expensive. This is well known, and after taking rent out of your earnings, you won't be left with too much to spend, bearing in mind that you'd like to save some for the next year ahead. That being said, if you know where to look, you can find some reasonably priced places or even free events!

London nightlife is great! Loads of variety in and around central London, so there is never a dull moment after work.

The weekly football team was something I was involved in. It was great, as it wasn't that high a level and wasn't overly competitive, just a great chance to socialise. There were other sports opportunities such as the softball league (open to people of all levels i.e. just an opportunity to get together and have some fun with employees from other companies), 5-10 km runs organised every so often, team drinks,