Junior Software Engineer Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at DSTL. This is my second placement at this establishment and I feel this year has shown a significant improvement since my last placement. There were parts of the job that I considered to be slightly menial and repetitive, however the aim for this placement for me was to get as much variety as possible in the work I was given, and so this has allowed me to classify which areas I would like to continue my career in once I graduate.

All my colleagues throughout my placement have been incredibly friendly and welcoming. I have worked in multiple different sections of DSTL across different sites (Fort Halstead and Porton Down) and in both places almost all of the staff I have met or worked with created a friendly environment to work in where I felt valued.

My management and supervisors have been superb from my experience. My Team Leader shows interest in my work and I have regular contact with her to update her on my progress in my work, how I feel about the work I'm doing and any other questions or concerns. My supervisors are also great for each work package I do, and they have a good amount of face to face contact with me where I can update them on my progress, and if any issues happen to arise they have enough technical expertise to guide me in the correct direction.

DSTL employs the use of Flexi-time. This means on one hand the employee has control over their own hours, which allows a satisfying level of freedom with respect to tailoring my work life around any other responsibilites I may have. This concept also applies to how much work I have to do on a daily basis. Due to the nature of the work done at DSTL, there is a distinct ebb and flow with the amount of work I have been given as tasking can come in an intermittent, spontaneous fasihon.

As I was working within a level 1 role (the lowest on the work grade spectrum for DSTL) I was not given a great deal of responsibility. However, this was not a problem because the only difference between me and someone working on the same work with more responsibility is that my work would have a bit more oversight than someone else. This isn't a problem at all as I appreciate that an entry level job is going to require guidance from someone with more experience.

I managed to successfully apply my skills acquired from university into my work, and I also managed to practice those skills (coding). Although I gained some practice in that area, I wouldn't say I learned a huge deal, although it has definitely helped my hone my skills ready for my next year at university. Practice is always useful.

Everyone's always worked towards creating a welcoming space for the placement students and I feel that isn't exclusive to just us, most people in the organisation seem to contribute towards a good atmosphere in all of the offices I have worked in.

The organisation of my placement has ranged between mediocre and good. I have always had a reasonable amount of work to do and had a nice amount of variety, which was the purpose of this placement. From that perspective it is good, however in some senses at a lower level the organisation is slightly worse (when it comes to day to day work).

Over this placement, I haven't received any training or development, although they have sent me to different sites so that counts at investment.

There is scope within DSTL for future employment, and this placement has allowed me to network in areas I would consider aiming for in my career post university. I feel these kind of connections are invaluable and useful for increasing chances of further permanent employment after university.

It depends where you work or in what area. In some areas in DSTL there are a large number of graduates so was a good level of social interaction with the option of socialising outside of the workplace as well. In some areas, there can't be a good social scene amongst fellow placement students as there are none!

Rather expensive. Fort Halstead is near London and so is quite pricey for rent and living costs like food. Salisbury is less so but still expensive for a student.

Nightlife in Salisbury is next to non existent (except for some various pubs) with no nightclubs around if that's what you're in to. In Halstead there is also no nightlife at all past 11 or 12 PM, but London is quite close so people have the option to go out there if they want, although its at least 30 minutes into central London.

There were some opportunities to be involved in activities outside of the workplace, but I didn't take part in many of them. In one of the offices, once a week they would have a social in the pub outside of work. Another lab I worked in had a social breakfast on a weekly basis also.