Coordinator Review

- Overall, I found my Placement at the Volvo Group enjoyable and rewarding; primarily, due to the companies' 'employee focused' culture which, in recent years, has been orientated toward becoming a most admired employer by giving employee's and students on placement alike the chance to suggest innovative ideas to the senior management team on ways to better the organisation. - Whilst the work assignment's during my Placement sometimes didn't reflect what I was truly capable of, it was refreshing to always have a new project in the pipeline, be challenged by the tasks my colleagues came to me for advice for and seeing my hard work pay off in the form of new, created efficiencies.

- If the Volvo Group can pride itself on one thing, it is the calibre of the employee's they employ. Throughout my year with the company, I was constantly surrounded by warm, friendly - and most importantly - helpful collages that always went out there way to ensure I was okay and explain anything to me that I didn't understand the first time around.

- Whilst team management meetings were held monthly, throughout my Placement there was a lack of direction from my Line Manager in terms of what they expected from me and the tasks they wanted me to do. Whilst this might have been heaven for someone who just wants to get by on minimal work, this lack of input, teaching and direction left me frustrated at times as I was actively having to go out and seek out learning opportunities rather than them coming direct to me - as you'd expect on a Placement year.

- As a general rule of thumb, work for Placement students will never be too exciting; either because the task is to important that no-one will give you the responsibility or that they are so easy that after time they get monotonous and loathful. Despite this, I received a good balance of project work I was able to take control of and call my own, along with the menial tasks that come with it every now and again.

When I first started my Placement - naturally - there was a lack of trust in my skills from people around me; simply because they didn't know me and there work was a reflection of there ability. However, as I completed smaller tasks and earned there respect and trust, I was soon promoted to take the lead on far bigger projects as the year went on.

Although my technical skills could have seen a lot more development, the people, real-world skills I gained during the year were invaluable. Learning how to communicate, negotiate and win-over all types of individuals was imperative to my success on my placement year and I have no doubt it will help me in my future career.

The Office was always a great environment to be in, never when waking up in the mornings did I ever dread going in to face the day. Primarily, this atmosphere was again created by the exceptionally well-rounded people the group employs - always fun, helpful and thoughtful whatever the scenario.

Whilst the initial induction process was very well put together - all be it a bit long winded - after that stage, I was stuck in an 'Intern Limbo' where no-one either had any work for me to do or no-one either trusted my abilities in the beginning. However, after my colleagues began to realise my potential the work and projects soon started to flow.

During my Placement year, I never received any chances to attend / obtain any professional qualifications or workshops. When I was pro-active enough to ask senior management to go out and network with customers - these opportunities were also swiftly rejected. I believe that this is the strongest drawback of the group - their lack of investment into their interns.

Whilst the human aspect of the company is brilliant and fits in perfectly if you really want to a achieve the mythical 'Work - Life Balance' - as an intern, the lack of career advancement is a major deterrent. Since the company is very 'flat' structurally, it becomes very tough to find - let alone achieve - promotions; unless you play golf with the senior management team that is....

I'm not sure whether it was our particular intake, or whether they put something in the water, but I found a lot of my fellow interns unwilling to socialise and at times a bit cold. Like most places, once the induction phase was over, factions of interns emerged into different social groups which divided a lot of us over the year.

Living in Warwick and with the only good social scene being based in Leamington Spa, trying to survive and keep your friends became super expensive - especially on the sub-par salary and absence of performance bonuses across all of the interns. However, what the area lacked in cheap accommodation and socialisation, it made up for in aesthetics; Warwick truly is a beautiful place.

Unless you were willing to travel to nearby Leamington Spa and if you dare - Coventry - for a night out, the people in Warwick have never seen, let alone heard of a bar or nightclub. What this sleepy town makes up for in peaceful living, it certainly lack in excitement and thrills.

After work activities only really came about if you knew who to network with. For example, when I was interested in joining a football team, I had find an independent group of employees who organised it themselves as opposed to a company promoted team. If you're looking for after-work activities, I wouldn't recommended the Volvo Group.