Student Software Project Engineer Review

My placement at Lighthouse Systems has been a fulfilling and rewarding experience. I was trained for the Job alongside Graduates and got to experience a proper software role. This placement has allowed me to develop my skills and grow as person. It has been a great experience applying the knowledge I have gained during University. I often feel that I have learnt far more during this year than I did during my two years of University so far.

I felt very valued by my colleagues who were always willing to lend me a hand whenever i got stuck. They also took the time to explain things properly and make sure i was getting on okay. If i was having trouble with a task they would often come and sit with me and help me diagnose the issue and suggest ways we

We have weekly meetings with our managers where we can discuss how the previous week has gone. We can discuss anything we like at these meetings such as how the previous week has gone or any concerns i might have. These check-ins were very important to me and made me feel supported as i eased into my role. I have worked quite closely with my managers this year, who have always been open to me asking questions.

I was very busy at all times. There was plenty of work to be done. I had to prioritise my tasks in order to make sure the more important ones were actioned as soon as possible. Ensuring i was organised was important to keep on top of my workload.

I was given a quite large amount of responsibility during my placement. I was expected to keep myself organised and to get tasks done. I had a large amount of contact with customers this year, through phone calls, emails, and even a site visit. As the year went on, my responsibilities grew, ensuring i was always being challenged and improving.

Many skills i have gained during this placement have been Lighthouse specific. However, I have also gained many other skills that will be useful in any Software role. Technical skills such as C#, SQL and problem solving, along with non-technical skills such as keeping myself organised, talking on the phone, taking part in meetings will be an asset to me in the future where-ever I may go.

General atmosphere in the office was really great. Everyone is busy and working hard but there was always time for the occasional laugh. Everyone is always willing to help each other. Everyone in the company is connected through Teams so people are only a message away. Despite being in separate teams, it felt like everyone was connected.

The admin team here are very approachable and organised and ensured everything went smoothly for me during the year. Important information and notices were often sent to me through email. Any questions i had prior to the placement were answered quickly. If i reported something it was never forgotten and always actioned as soon as possible.

The company were very good to me and always ensured they explained things concisely and properly. Anyone i asked for help always took the time to help me out.

Many of the employees here also started out as a Placement Student so doing a placement here can be very helpful to your future career prospects.

Weekly drinks on friday and regular pub visits are very common here. The occasional trip into Crawley also happened. The summer and winter parties where we were put up in luxury hotels were some of my favourite parts of the placement. There were also other activities such as Bowling, Meals and

I lived in Brighton where the cost of living is quite high. I do not know the cost of living in Crawley too well but i had to be quite careful with my money this year to ensure i was not overspending. The commute in the morning for me was around 20 miles which was easily manageable, but i would definitely consider living closer to work if i was to do my placement again.

Crawley and Brighton are good possible locations for a night out. I come from Brighton where the nightlife is great but others say going out in Crawley is also a good time.

As mentioned previously, Bowling, meals and nights out were quite common during my time here. Everyone is welcome to join these activities when they come around.