Software developer Review

by Metaswitch Networks

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

Rating

3.9/5
  • The Role
    4.3
  • The Company
    4.0
  • The Culture
    3.4

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I absolutely loved it.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • A lot- whenever I was stuck with something, or needed my code to be reviewed, I felt completely able to ask anyone who was sitting around my desk, and I rarely felt that my questions were 'stupid' or below them. The work I was given to do was actually useful which helped.

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I was given both a manager and a mentor, which was very useful. Because I was there during the summer, people were often on holiday, which meant there was a bit of a lack of continuity, but the fact that I had two people meant that there was always someone who new what I was supposed to be doing.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Busy enough. The vast majority of the time I had useful work to be doing, but didn't feel overburdened by work. Towards the end of my internship, when I had finished my main project, and there was not enough time for another big project, I felt that the work was a bit fragmented.

    5/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given the requirements, then had to figure out the specification and design myself, then code myself. In other words, I was responsible for them. However, I didn't have ultimate responsibility for them, since we had whiteboard and code review sessions. This was great as it allowed me to refine my abilities.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • I study maths, so the skills won't be very useful directly for university, apart from any coding projects I choose to do. However, since I plan to do software development as a career, the skills I learnt will be utterly invaluable; not just the coding but also general understanding of computers.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • It was industrious, but not stuffy. There were a good number of pub trips after work, and loads of sporting opportunities during lunch breaks, which I definitely used! I wouldn't say it was a particularly 'fun' atmosphere during work hours, but it was conducive to good work which suited me.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • There were a huge number of ways to give feedback, both on a biweekly basis, but also at the end of my internship, which I really valued. There were 'brown bag' talks given in lunchtimes about various topics of interest related to computers, and the response rate for feedback was pretty rapid.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • A lot. As mentioned above, there were lunchtime talks. When I started I had very little experience coding, so my manager basically taught me everything I needed to know about OOD, coding, and how various technologies work in general- one week I estimate he spent over 10 hours just teaching me what I needed to know.

    3/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    Subsidised Canteen

    Sports and Social Club

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    Financial Bonus

    Company Parties/Events

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I love the company, and since I have a job offer, I will almost certainly work for them. The lack of politics within the office was very refreshing, the flexibility to move around different part of the organisation was great (including other countries), and the work was both challenging and rewarding.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • OK.

    3/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Very good (For London). There was a massive Lidl near the office, and a load of Tesco/Sainsbury/Waitrose type supermarkets as well. Because the company have their own houses which they rent out to employees, the rent was astonishingly cheap (£9/£11 a night). Transport is as good as TFL normally is (but two train stations very nearby is super convenient).

    4/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • I don't know- not my scene.

    3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • Loads- see my other comments.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

Computer Systems Engineering

London

September 2018


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