Junior IT Tester Review

I extremely enjoyed my work placement my from the day I started, clear structure and thought had been put into the placement year and there was a definitive learning path which was to be completed in the year. Along with the friendly and welcoming nature which Howdens encompasses, there are also many perks for working at Howdens, which many other company’s do not offer.

During my placement my work was diverse and varied, and I worked with many teams and wider business users. In this time I felt I was valued as good work is recognised individually and as a team, with many opportunities rewards and recognition. The team I worked with were also great, who always valued my input and felt like I made a contribution to the team.

The guidance by management and my supervisor was excellent; I worked closely with my line manager on some tasks and had regular one-to-ones, where I felt I could raise any issues I had. If I needed extra support or advice I could rely on his expertise and due to the helpful and friendly nature of my line manager this was made easy.

Generally the work load was good, I had enough work to keep me busy but not overwhelming. However, this can be variable depending on how much I want, for example I could take extra work if I did not have much to do that day, as we worked as a team and helped each other with workloads.

During my placement I had a large amount of responsibility; I lead some aspects of an IT project which were successful. However, I had the support from my team and line manager if I required this. The level of responsibility is variable on the individual, therefore the more I learnt the more responsibility I had.

The skills and knowledge I developed during my placement year was invaluable. While working for Howdens, I completed one of my university modules, which helped with the workload in my final year. I also built many critical soft skills, such as confidence, leadership and communication in an environment which helped me progress.

The general atmosphere in our office is like a second home. Everybody gets along and is very friendly. The office is filled with laughter, coming to the office is not a chore when you work with your friends. There are always events going on in and out of the office, so everybody gets on socially.

The overall work placement is organised very well, there is a clear plan to be completed in the year with various aspects such as soft skills, technical skills and overall tasks such as visiting a Howdens depot, and seeing how the IT systems we put in place are used in the real world.

In terms of development and investment Howdens input was unquestionably the best I have heard of. Howdens supported my tuition fees at university for my third year, offered me job when I finished university with a flexible start date, sent me on training courses relevant to my job area and personal development and have a plan in place to help my learning over the next few years. Howdens are a great company to work for and have a philosophy of investing in its staff, therefore many colleagues are experienced in their area.

Future prospects with this organisation are very bright, many colleagues have come from university or completed a placement and been here ever since. Howdens is I great company to work for and give rewards to those who work hard. I have a clear plan on how I can progress and further my career.

On the social side of things, the company organises a social bonus scheme. This is a series of social events ranging from Grand Prix to Championship Darts and Cooking classes, where colleagues can meet each other for the first time or build upon existing relationships, meaning there are always social opportunities.

I lived at home during this placement, due to the convenient location. Therefore it did not cost much, and I managed to create some savings which is good as it supported me for my final year at university.

The nightlife I worked in was good, normally we would go to York or Leeds for nightlife, which is not too far.

Howdens have many opportunities for activities for outside of work during my placement year I went paintballing, go karting, super car driving and I played in a 5 side football team. Quite a few activities are organised so there is plenty to get involved