Industrial Design and Human Factors Placement Student Review

I have learnt so much during my time at DePuy Synthes including new software, how to be more professional and soft skills too. I have really enjoyed learning new things and being able to connect with professionals and experts in the world of medical devices. all in all an amazing experience! I don't want to leave. I am going to stay in the area of medical devices.

I felt very valued by my colleagues especially as I could add a new perspective to designing. I have lead the development and research on a few projects and my input was vital to the development of products. I felt valued when people came to me with a question only I could answer or when only I could do the work.

My manager was very supportive and understanding in situations where others may not be. She understood the struggles of a student and gave useful advice. whenever I got overwhelmed with work she would be able to step in and help or just have a motivational chat to help me with prioritising workload.

Always very busy, a bit overwhelming at times but manageable most of the time. rare times of little work to do in-between projects. I have learnt how to balance workloads better but still have a lot to learn. working with people in the US was difficult at first as they have lunch when its 1700 UK time, I had to manage my meetings with them so I could go home on time.

I was responsible for managing my own work hours. I was responsible for creating a challenge for the application day. I am responsible for multiple files in our database. The responsibility to meet deadlines was stressful and ended badly but the majority of the time it was fulfilling to complete and present work I was responsible for.

The skills I have learnt will benefit me for the rest of my life and will shape the way I approach work and projects at uni. I have gained professional qualifications and received training from experts, of which have open my interests into new areas of learning. I have learnt more in one year here than I did in 2 years of uni, interpret that how you will.

Better than your average office, open plan, hot-desking (apart from my team who required Wacom tablets), a director was sat behind me (me, a placement student!). a really inclusive place to be with free fruit and friendly staff. could do with more green space and consistent air-con that doesn't freeze or cook you.

Very well organised in terms of expected work. IT problems prevailed for the first 3 months of my placement, making working difficult. Being a placement student is a strange position to hold as I'm being paid less but sometimes do more work than a graduate role. I was entitled to the majority of benefits but not some more meaningful benefits as I'm a placement student.

A lot, I was sent on a biomechanics course, 3D printing training, careers fair, anatomy courses, I have gained a qualification in theatre access. as I'm a placement student it was sometimes difficult to justify funding training. Many of the staff have invested time in me by teaching me new technologies and mentoring me in unfamiliar areas.

It was made clear at the start of my employment that there was no guarantee of future employment. I would love to work at the company to offer my skills. I have definitely been inspired to continue on the path of medical device design. I would love to come back on as a graduate role but that is not offered for my area (Industrial Design).

I tired multiple times to connect with the other groups of placement students but we all grouped up and didn't mix much between those. I lived with 4 other placement students. It would be good to introduce the other placement students to each other in the first few weeks rather than in the 3rd month, just to help social bonds form. I did make a few good friends and meet my girlfriend though!

Pretty cheap as I lived in a student area, as I was being paid it allowed my to be a bit more extravagant with purchases. from working with a full time job I have been out and socialised less in the evenings than I ever did at uni. I feel more mature and less inclined to spend money on a night out in a club. Pubs and clubs are as cheap as they normally are anywhere.

The area I worked was non existent as it is a rough area. in the city or where I lived, it was the opposite with a high student population always out and socialising. From what I experienced early on in my placement there are a large range of clubs and bars in the city and surround area catering for students and everyone else. pretty good.

There were a few groups of people who got involved in activities outside work, like rock climbing which I enjoyed a lot. One of the benefits were the leisure centre cards that allowed me to train with colleagues and make friends in the sports. There were charity events that we could get involved in to help the community.