Industrial Placement Student Review

I've enjoyed my year at DSTL and think it's a good place to do a placement year; I don't think I've ever dreaded going to work on a Monday - surely the highest praise you could give regarding work? haven't covered everything I would've liked to have when I started but I've worked on a variety of things and improved many technical skills.

I felt like any other level of employee, like a proper employee, and so would say I felt valued. Everyone was happy to help out whenever I had a problem and I had no problems getting on with anyone. I'd say people were all quite agreeable and I had no problems.

The structure is such that you don't see too much of your team leader - or at least I didn't - but they were always supportive and happy to help in anyway they could, such as through paying and allowing for training, providing holidays/days off, and just however they could help. All in all I had no problems with any management that I dealt with and found them to be friendly and approachable.

Business varied from day to day, in fact I could choose how busy to be or not to be. When urgent work was required then it had to be done, but at other times I could work at my own pace.

I was given full responsibility of my tasks and did the same level work as any other employee, with assistance at times, but overall I did the same work as anyone else.

Many of the things I've done here will be useful in future employment. I haven't been able to cover everything I want to - that depends on where you get placed for your in the company - but everything I've done should be useful.

My office was very friendly, I got on with everyone and it was a good atmosphere to work in.

I had tasks which lasted the whole year, and others assigned to me at different points.

I undertook training which was relevant to my job, but would have liked to completed other types of training that weren't available to me due to their price/me not being around to use them at DSTL. My team leader was happy for me to spend time each week doing programming tutorials though.

I wouldn't want to come back as the company is moving to Salisbury in the next two to three years and that doesn't appeal to me. If the company was staying at the site I've been working at though (near London) then I would definitely have come back.

I think some of the students got together sometimes but I didn't as I knew people round here.

Housing is expensive, around half of my pay each month went on rent alone. Socialising can be expensive as I went to London most of the time when going out, usually on Fridays and Saturdays. I always had enough money to do this so I think one can get by quite easily, but there wasn't much left over.

The site is in Kent - there's not much at all round there - but I lived closer to London where there's plenty to do, as you'd imagine.

Not to my knowledge but I never sought them out.