summer student Review

I was thrilled that as soon as I started I was completing work that was being used in real-life projects and I wasn't just being provided with tasks that were irrelevant. However sometimes it was a struggle to find me work to do and often the work was not the most varied. The company supported me going to see the architecture department for a few days, however here I was just given a work experience task and was not given real work. I did find the placement really useful in showing me what real-life work is like and it has given me a better idea of the area that I wish to work in,

I felt valued to a few members that I was introduced to and received work from. However I feel as if it would have been nice if over my time in the department I was given the opportunity to work with different members of the team on different projects in order to gain a better understanding of the different challenges required and also in order to meet more people and network better. I was given compliments on my work and was helped without question by members around me when given a task that I wasn't sure of all areas.

My line manager has been very good at always checking I am ok and trying to find work for me when I was getting low. Particularly when the architecture department didn't give me real work and didn't look after me the best she was very caring and considerate and made sure that I got the information that I wanted and checked I was doing ok. I found her support very good and she made herself very approachable if ever I had a problem,

It was very varied. Some days I had many tasks to complete, especially when approaching a deadline these tasks became pressured. However. there were also times when I found myself without anything and with people around me lacking in tasks to give me. I appreciated the difficulty with colleagues finding me work that I was able to do though with my limited knowledge and just like in all walks of life when I had nothing to do all of a sudden multiple things would come along at once making me very busy!

I was please that the work I was doing was being used on real-life projects. Especially when a graduate engineer sent off my bridge calculations off in his name so taking responsibility for my work-I was very happy that my calculations were being trusted. Also this was the first time I had designed to the eurocodes and it was nice to be trusted to look up the relevant data myself and carry out the safety checks on different members of a trussed linkbridge. Having real work is not something I expected to be completing as soon as I walked in to my placement.

My skills on autocad developed a lot and I appreciate much more the importance of placing items on different layers, I got a much better understanding on Xref files. New software that I was required to use included Civil 3D and SketchUp. I know that getting a basic understanding of sketchup will definitely aid me in my degree next year as it becomes a lot more design based as I begin Architectural Engineering. I have definitely gained a much better understand of the way a project is carried out. What is particularly useful was to see how a concept is communicated to the client which is something I picked up my time with the architecture department.

Generally it all seemed quite independent with everyone getting on with their own tasks. Every Tuesday there was a safety moment which I liked as everyone stopped their work and listened to whoever was taking the moment that week. This time was more of an opportunity to feedback to the higher people in the team and I liked the relationship that the employees had with their managers. I felt it was promising that everyone came together at this time. generally it was a relaxed atmosphere, not many people seemed overly stressed or pressured.

Prior to me arriving I received information about start times and what I needed to bring which was helpful. Also once I had arrived I already had a work email and a desk and a login and as my email had been set up I had already been invited to meetings within my team which made me feel included and welcomed. When I arrived I feel as if I could have been introduced to a few more people so I had a wider range of people who I could ask for work from. In my first few days I had lots of induction tasks that I had to complete to learn about the company and different features that gave me an idea of how the system worked. I was also supported in filling in my timesheet and similar tasks.

I don't feel as if I have been invested in personally as I didn't receive any structured training or anything similar. As I am in a system when I am due to be returning to the same place next year I did think that there may have been some training for me that would have made me a better employee for them the following year. People around me were happy to sacrifice their time to help me with things I didn't know how to do though.

From working in the civils team I have realised that personally I would like to pursue a more structural route. Being a very large company with many teams based in the Euston Tower Office I am hoping that I would be supported in working with the structural team for my next placement next summer. judging by how my line manager sorted out me spending some time with architecture I am positive that I would be supported in moving to a different department.

I met other summer students, however this was sorted out by myself due to finding people online before I even started my placement. I felt as if the company should have given us the names of fellow summer students and perhaps organised a time for us to meet in order to help us socialise. I especially feel as if those who had to relocate would have appreciated this more as they have moved away from their friends back home. It was nice that there were other summer students employed at the same time and in the same department.

Very expensive as I am based just outside of central London. Fortunately I was able to live at home whilst I worked, but fellow summer students had to relocate and I was disappointed that the company did not fund the move or help out at all financially. I am aware of many other companies who do financially support their summer students. Socialising isn't cheap, but if you are on a tight budget then there are cheaper pubs and bars and many offer happy hours and deals on certain nights if you want to plan when you are going out.

Euston tower is close to Camden and personally I know the Camden has a good nightlife as I have been before with friends from home. As to be expected London has a buzzing nightlife and you would never struggle to find somewhere new to go out, it just most likely won't be cheap. There are many bars and even some cheap ones if you look hard enough. Many offer happy hours to help with the budget.

I know there were different sports activities going on including football and touch rugby played in a local park. I was always involved with commitments from my home sports teams so didn't get an opportunity to try these out but I am sure they were very fun. Socially there was less than I thought, in plan I think there was supposed to be a monthly social organised by a member of the team, and sometimes this happened and was very fun, however I feel as if there could have been a few more casual pub outings.