Voice Systems Engineer Review

by Next

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

Rating

3.7/5
  • The Role
    3.4
  • The Company
    3.9
  • The Culture
    3.8

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I was part of a dedicated team of IT engineers that had been working at Next for many years, and so the experience I gained from them was particularly useful at Next, but maybe not so much in a wider field. I enjoyed the team environment, and the fact that I was never alone when the work got more challenging.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • As my colleagues had all been working at Next for a vast number of years, it took a little longer to become part of "friendship circles" and the like. But everyone was welcoming and friendly from day one, and I felt like the work I was doing was mostly that of value, and that my colleagues took me seriously when necessary.

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I was given a lot more support from my management at the beginning of the placement, and I felt it diminished quite a lot by the end. We had numerous team meetings to keep up to date on the work that each person was doing, however if there was not much work for me to do, I was not pushed hard to pick up others' work. My managers were approachable and well-mannered, and so if I was struggling or needed to ask them anything, I always felt like I could.

    3/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • I varied widely from day to day. Some days I'd be head down deep in work, and others I'd be twiddling my thumbs for a few hours at a time after completing all the work that needed doing and awaiting more. Most of the time I'd have an adequate amount of work, some of it being more interesting and useful than others. If I didn't have any set work to do, I'd usually be able to go hunting for more.

    3/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given more responsibilities as I got more comfortable with the software and the work itself. I feel like I was held back a little from the work that involved having a much larger amount of responsibility, however this is understandable as I was only there for a year, and as a FTSE100 company, anything that goes wrong will have a wider impact on the business than at a smaller company. The responsibilities I did get given were fair, and I enjoyed having my name on certain pieces of work.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The experience as a whole has helped my broaden my horizons and views of the workplace. I was not keen on working in a largely office environment before, but after working at Next, and seeing how a nice office can benefit your work, I have reevaluated this part of my outlook. The skills I have developed have been mainly people skills and specialist software skills that Next and other companies use, which while useful if I was to use them again, will not directly help my employment prospects as much. However I have gained a much broader skill pallet from working in the Voice Systems area, and have gained knowledge and some skills that I would not have imagined getting prior to my placement.

    4/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • The atmosphere was friendly and open, with many different teams situated on the different floors working together. Walking up to others and asking for help or simply to chat never felt frowned upon, and almost all of my colleagues were accommodating and helpful. The majority of the time the atmosphere was of a calm working environment.

    5/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • It was relatively well organised, with a few shortcomings. First off we believed that Next would help with looking for accommodation, however I only received a guide of the area and a list of local estate agents. I had regular team meetings and one-to-ones with management to see how I was getting on and progressing, however the more infrequent meetings about my placement goals and feelings were more sporadic and mistimed. For the most part though, the placement ran well without many complications.

    4/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • Next were fairly restricted as to how much they invested in my personal development. There was a course for the software that we use extensively within the Voice Systems team, however as I was on placement, Next did not see fit to send me on this course, whereas the graduate that joined the team at the same time did go on this course. However on the flip-side, Next did send me on a 5 day course in London to learn more about the creation of servers and the like, which I very much appreciated. In terms of personal training in the workplace, I was able to ask for help from my colleagues at any time, and they were very helpful with anything I got stuck on. I was subject to a development review every 3 months, where my manager went over how I was progressing, and the work I was doing.

    4/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Subsidised Canteen

    Company Parties/Events

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I have been told by management that Next are looking to offer me a full time position in their IT department, however I have not yet received this in writing. I remain optimistic, and will contact them soon if I still hear radio silence. I'm sure if I re-applied they will remember me anyway!

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • I was able to involve myself with a good social group at Next, made up of other placement students and graduates that started on their graduate scheme. We went out quite a few times and had good social gatherings both inside and outside of Next. Next set up a small array of social events for employees, ranging from sports and yoga to days out.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • The cost of living was fairly cheap, as I lived in a council area of Leicester, and used Next's free bus service to commute to work. As it is the midlands, to go on a day or night out, it is cheaper than London or in the South, and most places to eat or hang out are reasonable in terms of pricing. There are also a few parks for the more economically strained.

    4/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • The two universities in Leicester meant that nightlife could consist of either partying with students at clubs, or going out to eat/drink. There is enough going on to keep you entertained if you go looking. There is also Nottingham and Loughborough close by if you'd like to go further afield.

    4/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • In the Leicester area there were quite a few options to get involved in activities outside of work. Personally I got involved in tennis, jujitsu, and the local gym. Altogether this was all affordable, and we were able to go on social nights a lot. The city centre is not too far away so any activities that are hosted there are quite easy to get to.

    4/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Computer Systems Engineering, Information Technology

East Midlands

August 2017


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