Summer Student infrastructure/structures Review

I had a mixed experience in two different teams. One team used me very effectively and properly involved me in a specific project ad always ensured I had work to do. Then the other team gave me odd jobs on a range of projects but never seemed to plan for what work I could be given so some times I didn't have much work.

When I was properly involved in a project I felt very valued as the work I was doing was being directly used and praised by others. When I was being given odd jobs they tended to just be admin type tasks and not engineering specific, here I did not feel valued as the tasks seemed very miscellaneous and never had much pressure attached to them.

My buddies I was given were so friendly and helpful and seemed invested in ensuring I had work to do and that it was work I was enjoying it. They both were very approachable and offered good guidance. My line managers seemed busier and did not have much time for me.

This very much varied daily, some days I was completing quite brain intensive work all day, especially close to a deadline I was working slightly longer days. Then other days I lacked work, sometimes despite asking all the team I still couldn't find any work to be getting on with.

This was related with the nature of the task. On some tasks my information was being fed back to the client and I was encouraged to suggest solutions myself, I liked being involved like this and it gave me a good understanding as to what may work. I enjoyed work with responsibility attached much more as it felt realistic.

I think what I done particularly with structural design will be entirely useful with the rest of my degree. Developing my skills in excel as well to automate calculations was very useful and I can imagine that this is something I will be doing throughout the rest of my studies. Also my buddies helped me to access some really useful texts with design and I have had experience in designing things that I haven't designed before.

I was a bit disappointed with the social side of the office, however I think this is difficult when you're only there for a brief period of time because often it's because the invites were sent before you got there. From a work sense in structures the atmosphere was collaborative with lots of employees seeking advice from others on an informal basis which was friendly.

This was not good at all, there had been problems in human resources when I got there that meant that I didn't have a login and couldn't complete the arrival tasks because of this. Also there were many problems with the account they had made and it not being linked to my line manager. Very different to when I completed a placement here the year before and everything was sorted before I arrived.

I think this could have been better, it would have been useful to have been trained in a software rather than the tasks being given to someone else. Also I asked to go to meetings at the start and this request seemed to be looked over and didn't happen. Disregarding these elements, I feel, don't quite give you a try reflection of what the work is like. There are online training tasks to be completed when the work isn't busy.

If I can be placed in the team I felt more valued in and enjoyed the work more for then I would be keen to join the company, however I do not see myself working within the other team. Honestly, though, I don't feel like I've got a true idea for what that team does.

Us summer students often ate lunch together and occasionally went out which was really nice. However this was all student led and was because we found the other summer students ourselves. I am surprised that the company don't organise a time to meet the other summer students as part of the placement as it would have been easy to feel alone without having the other summer students.

It is more expensive than everywhere else in the country because it is near central London, but then that itself as it's own perks. Particularly for people not from London as it is a good opportunity to experience the city if you haven't been much before. There are cheap places to be found.

It's in London so there are a vast range of clubs suiting many different tastes. Loads of bars and really different places to go. Also there are many other events to get involved with including festivals and exhibition, there are also a lot to do for free in London which is accessible for all.

I knew of the activities that the office done like playing tag rugby every week however I was never invited. I know that if I had been working when the invite came out I would have been more than welcome to join I'm sure, just a shame they didn't invite.