Quality Assurance Engineer Placement Review

by Focusrite

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

Rating

4.2/5
  • The Role
    4.5
  • The Company
    4.4
  • The Culture
    3.5

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • I thoroughly enjoyed my year at Focusrite. From day one of my placement I was able to get stuck in with real project work and was treated as an equal employee. The work was varied and engaging and I was able to grow within the role in the 14 months I worked there. Focusrite great their employees really well and placement students share the same benefits as full time employees.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • I felt very valued by my employees. I received a lot of positive feedback from various members of staff, whether formally or informally. My opinion was always listened to in meetings and I never had to feel nervous about asking any questions. Focusrite hold some great social events throughout the year which help to cement these relations.

    5/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • I had weekly 1-1 sessions with my manager in which I could discuss all aspects of my week and get answers to any questions I may have had. However, i always felt as though I could approach my manager if anything was urgent and couldn’t wait for this session.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • The workload varied with project stage, so it is difficult to give a solid answer. Overall I never felt overwhelmed but there were times that I had a bit more on my plate than was comfortable. However, management were always understanding of workload in regards to deadlines and most of the pressure came from myself and not from above.

    4/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • I was given a lot of responsibility throughout my placement year and was allowed to lead several smaller projects. The only difference between a placement and a full-time employee in this respect is that placement employees didn’t tend to lead large projects, but this was mostly due to the fact that these would run longer than the placement year.

    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 100% feel as though I learnt more during my placement year than I did at years 1&2 of university combined. Focusrite helped me to develop skills in the areas I was most interested in, allowing me to steer the placement year’s activities to my taste. Having professional experience in these areas has directly improved my approach to study and will help me to excel in my final year of university and beyond.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • Overall the attitude was extremely relaxed and positive. This could alter slightly as project work ramped up, but the atmosphere was never dull or negative. The free breakfasts, lunches, tea, coffee and biscuits were a great addition to an already positive atmosphere.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • Focusrite have been taking placements for many years so the process is a well-oiled machine by now. They have a formal recruitment process which starts early on in the academic year, with interviews around February. Focusrite reply to all applicants, successful or not. Upon starting my placement, there was a clearly laid path for me to follow, complete with training sheet and materials.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • As I was treated as a regular employee, I attended all in-house training days/sessions everyone else had throughout the year. These mostly focused on soft skills. However, having the freedom to seek help/guidance from so many talented people with in the company allowed me to improve my technical skills as well.

    4/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Subsidised Canteen

    Financial Bonus

    Company Parties/Events

    Staff Sales/Staff Shop

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • I have continued to work with Focusrite throughout my final year of study, with high prospects of continuing on full-time after the completion of my degree, providing the opening is there. Many ex-placement students have gone back to the company after they graduate.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Focusrite held monthly music events where we could finish early and listen to musicians from within the company. They also held a great Christmas party and summer boat party with open bars. Less formally, there were plenty of people within the company to socialise with outside of work with a pub not too far from the office.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Focusrite is situated in High Wycombe which is not a cheap place to live. The rent price is fairly expensive due to the close proximity to London. The price of socialising varies depending on what you do; the price of a beer is fairly high in most pubs, but there are alternatives.

    3/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • High Wycombe has a couple of good craft beer pubs and has some good local breweries nearby. There was one club in town but I can’t comment on that as I never went there. Overall, the night life isn’t too bad considering Wycombe is not a city.

    3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • There was a Focusrite football team, welcome drinks whenever someone new started and team meals when a project came to a close.

    4/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

South West

October 2018


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