Systems Analyst Review

by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.3/5
  • The Role
    3.6
  • The Company
    3.1
  • The Culture
    3.0

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • Highly; lots of projects to get involved with in varying depth. Everyone was very helpful and made me feel included. The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxing and the option to work from home every now and again was great.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt very valued. I worked on multiple projects which had a real impact on the company

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • If I had any issues I had multiple "Buddies" to get help from: including the students on placements, my line manager and other staff members in my team.

    4/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • I was consistently busy for most of the 3 months I worked there. There was a slow week but that was because I was between projects so it was to be expected.

    3/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • A fair amount. I had a meeting with my line manager to find out what I enjoyed, and from there they helped me talk to people to get involved in projects that fit those interests. I was still guided but once the initial meetings were done I was left to my own devices to get the work done and treated just like another member of the team; a bit positive in my opinion as I don't like being micro managed or treated differently because I was a student.

    3/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The main things were because one of my units in my third year was Stochastic processes I was involved on a project which used Stochastic methods and simulations for analysis which has helped increase my understanding dramatically. The heavy reliance on Excel has already benefited me as I know most companies look for intermediate- advanced knowledge of it so this can only benefit me as I started learning about how to use the VBA macros. Along with teamwork, meeting deadlines and getting up every morning on time, it has really set me up and motivated me to do well in my final year so that I can be in the best position for my future career.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • Relaxed but professional, you could always have a chat or a tea break when you wanted, but everyone always made sure they got their work done on time

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • It was better towards the end, when I had plenty of things to do. The initial week was quite slow and full of "training". But this was to be expected due to the nature of DSTL

    3/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • They encouraged me to talk to as many people as possible and make connections early on to help benefit me in the future. This along with numerous trips to different sites, easy access to different programmes and other students to socialise with have helped me build my confidence in applying for jobs in the future.

    3/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    Subsidised Canteen

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    Company Parties/Events

    Working from home

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I would consider coming back later in my career, however I know because that it is the civil service, the salary isn't as high as others in the sector to begin with and progression can be slow. However this being said the flexi-working is fantastic and I know that it could appeal to me later down the line if I was feeling overworked/under appreciated.

    3/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • There was, however because I was already in Portsmouth we lived in separate accommodation so I only really saw them at the work place and due to other commitments I had I wasn't able to socialise as much as I would have liked, but that was due purely to me and not the other students there at the time.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • The cost of living (as I go to University in Portsmouth) is relatively high in my opinion (my loan barely covers accommodation alone) but with the salary you receive it is quite liveable if you spend the time finding the right accommodation for you (be that close to the town centre if you're happy to pay that bit extra or further towards the Fratton/Milton area)

    3/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • I am more of a pub person, so Albert Road is my preference, where there are plenty of pubs to go, but I know that Astoria is quite good, especially when it links up to Lyberry and it can be a laugh. But the prices go up over summer so once again it depends how much you get paid

    3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Yes, mainly down to the other students in all honesty, but it was easy to do.

    3/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

South East

August 2016


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