Sustainability Industrial Placement Review

I enjoyed my placement a lot. It gave a very good insight into the corporate world, and what working in a office is like. It allowed me to develop my skills and get new skills, which are very useful in my degree and hopefully beyond. Overall I would recommend this placement to anyone.

I did feel valued by my colleagues as I was given significant responsibilities and projects throughout the placement. I didn't feel extraneous to the group, and felt like I was part of the team. The team were also very sociable, and there were plenty of outside socialising opportunities which helped me feel valued by the team.

I was given lots of informal support through weekly progress meetings and I was able to bring up any issues if I had them. Formally it didn't feel like there was a lot of support, especially in induction which wasn't a formal induction meaning I felt out of my depth for the first month or so. The bi annual reviews were helpful but as I only had two were not helpful day to day. Informally to a good extent but not that much formally.

It depended from day to day and seasonal, generally I was quite busy so my day was filled but on some days there was a lack of work. I normally managed to leave work on time, and always before 6. There was a high workload but it was able to be spread over a week. Generally it was a good balance.

I had a lot of responsibility in specific areas and did have my own projects to run. Although I did have to run quite a lot by my supervisor this made sense as it is a global corporation so everyone had to have their work checked, particularly if it was communication to restaurants or customers. It was a good amount of responsibility and wasn't overwhelming.

To a very high extent. Already I have used skills I have developed in my degree - for example project leading, which is very useful in my dissertation. I particularly think my communication and presentation skills, which were developed during the year will be very useful in my degree and further career(s).

Mixed because I was in two different areas during my year. In the second half the area where we worked had a lot of people who were on the road a lot so the atmosphere was more subdued. Overall, in the whole office, it was a great atmosphere with very nice people. The office was very nice and had very good facilities. I was happy working there.

In terms of McDonald's it was very well organised as they had been doing it for a few years. They had the payroll, organisation all set up. My university was poor in terms of YII but this was nothing to do with McDonald's. McDonald's set up the placements very well. It was good. Very seamless, only difficulty was finding housing but that was due to the area not McDonald's.

Quite a lot as I went on a lot of courses - excel assertiveness skills presentation skills insights into you communication introduction to office life - so they did invest in me. Sent me to a lot of places eg Bristol Northern Ireland which was great. Lots of investment into people in terms of personal training and development.

No formal graduate pathway but lots of previous industrial students have come back. One of the people in my team was a previous industrial student so there are definitely employment prospects. Obviously it is a large organisation so lots of employment prospects in the future. Not amazing future prospects re: McDonald's but not nonexistent either.

All down to the people ... McDonald's don't set up social events so it was up to the students to get to know each other and do things. Nothing to do with the main company just depends on if you and your fellow placement students were sociable. We all lived together which helped, and some people worked in the same departments. Normally eat lunch together.

Lived in London so not cheap!!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily I had a cheap house but was still just under half my pay going on rent and bills (subsidised canteen certainly helped with the food bill). Not centre London so could afford to go out but not every weekend. Not as cheap as university but not very expensive for London. At the end of the day London is expensive.

Again in London so pretty decent and we where 10 minutes from Camden on the tube. I don't drink so it's not really my scene but people who went out seemed to have fun. Don't know about the price. Nice pubs near the office which we went to quite a lot which was nice for socialising.

Yes as we were in London! Lots to do in the area and only 20 minutes from central London on the tube. I didn't join any clubs or anything as I was still adjusting to work! Lots of stuff to do with people at work as well. Obviously London is a great place to do out of work activities.