Modelling Scientist 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

3.1/5
  • The Role
    3.7
  • The Company
    3.2
  • The Culture
    2.0

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I really enjoyed the majority of the work that was set. It was all in-line with what I’d previously learnt and I felt that it utilised and developed my skills. Some tasks were slightly more repetitive, and therefore less enjoyable, but understanding how these fit into a larger project meant I still got a feeling of accomplishment having done them.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt very valued by my colleagues. The intra-team dynamic was very supportive and friendly and many went out of their way to find work which I – a pre-graduate – could understand and carry out. Whenever I had any issues or problems there was always a number of people available and willing to help.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I was assigned a “buddy” for one-to-one support, but they weren’t always available and rarely initiated any conversations. My line manager was always supportive, checking up on how I was doing multiple times a week, when he had the time, but I often found I had to explicitly ask for guidance and direction.

    3/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Inevitably, some days and weeks were busier than others. Generally, I found I had suitable work to do, but wouldn’t have minded a little more generally. However, there were a small number of weeks where I was particularly busy, only just managing to do it all. Perhaps, with a little more planning and direction, the work could have been better distributed.

    3/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I felt like I was given a reasonable level of responsibility overall. I was wholly responsible for a part of a larger team project which others were going to rely on and use. I feel like perhaps I could have been given more in some areas, but equally my experience was so inferior to most other team members that I may not have been able to deliver in this case.

    3/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • I learnt a huge amount of relevant knowledge throughout my placement. I learnt and developed many skills surrounding the applications of theory I’ve previously learnt and also some that I will learn during my degree. Useful, transferable skills such as MATLAB, C++ and the use of complex simulation software will be invaluable in my further studies and employment.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The atmosphere was generally friendly. Some colleagues were more sociable and approachable than others, but if a conversation was initiated, all would be happy to contribute. Due to a new SMART working initiative, employees don’t have a constant desk, which negatively impacted this, but – as often happened – teams always try to sit in the same general area, so this wasn’t too bad.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • Overall, the placement was organised well. The induction process and all introductory/mandatory training were very good. Occasionally, there was a slight lack of available work for me (with my lesser qualifications and experience), but work was always found quite quickly. The organisation of other aspects all seemed to be good, facilitating the clearance for release and my attendance at an event to present about my work placement.

    4/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • I was given all the training provided to all other employees at the company. These included fire awareness, manual handling and equality and diversity courses. They also provided training in handing information at difference security classifications and delivering S&T within Dstl. These all made me feel very valued by Dstl and gave me transferable skills in many areas.

    4/5

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

    Sports and Social Club

    National Travel

    International Travel

    Working from home

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • Dstl is a good organisation and employer in many areas, with a number of perks including a range of working methods. However, I don’t plan to pursue future employment with them on account of the increasing stress and pressure their employees – and all in the public sector – are increasingly being put under.

    2/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • There was a reasonably good social scene amongst the large group of new graduates that Dstl hired at the same time as I began my placement. Within the team I was placed in, there were also several team meals organised, but the dynamic in these were occasionally slightly awkward due to the rather varied backgrounds and sole common ground of classified work which can’t be discussed in a restaurant.

    3/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • The general cost of living was quite high. My work site was Porton Down which is very small, the nearest “large” settlement being Salisbury. Rents here are rather expensive, so I found a house-share. The cost of travel is also quite expensive; I don’t drive so needed a bus pass all the way out to Porton each day which was about £70 a month.

    2/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • The nightlife in Salisbury was virtually non-existent. It does have a few bars, but these are all quite expensive (apart from the Wetherspoons). There is one nightclub which I haven’t visited: The Chapel. The nearest place with a good nightlife would probably be Southampton which is less than £10 return on the train.

    1/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • There were many different groups and opportunities in the area. A group in Dstl for new-starters was very good at organising various local events and meets. These were quite diverse and were good for meeting people you wouldn’t normally at work. In the area itself, there are a number of different sports clubs.

    3/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Computer Systems Engineering

South West

July 2017


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