This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
-
The Company
-
The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I enjoyed the placement a lot because it gave me an opportunity to implement theory, I learnt at university, in practice. People were very helpful and happy to collaborate every day. There were also events outside work which gave a chance to meet employees from other departments and learn more about the company.
My colleagues were always open and happy to help in solving diverse problems. I think they valued my point of view as discussions were made together and my opinion was considered by everyone. While working on design of diverse products we exchanges our knowledge trying to achieve the common target together.
My manager appeared to be very helpful throughout the placement as he was always open to provide me with extra advice and talk about different kinds of problems encountered. Continuous feedback was provided and discussions were made to clarify any misunderstandings. I appreciate his encouragement and positive attitude during every day tasks.
During the placement I experienced a great balance between work activities as paper work was always interspersed with working in laboratories. Projects started from an introduction after which I could notice a gradual increase in the level of difficulty which helped me assimilate with new types of tasks. Summing up, there were always electronic problems to solve.
I was given the full management of the main project throughout the year and also had an opportunity to lead smaller designs. Some projects were taken from the design concept through to the delivery of a full documentation package to a contract manufacturer. They exercised many skills a project leader must possess.
I sure that skills I developed and trainings I received will be very helpful in the development of my engineering career. During the year I learnt how to make effective use of theory in practice. Multiple meetings and exercises provided me with new technical skills which I am planning to use while leading an individual project at university.
The Company
The office was always full of joy and people seemed to be very open and happy to talk to each other. Especially during breaks there was always someone to have a nice chat with. Social event were also organised which helped to get to know more about others and their interests.
The placement started from an introduction to the company, the team and their goals. Afterwards, there was a chance to formulate personal aims, objectives and motivations. An opportunity of working with more experienced colleagues helped to learn more efficiently. I think that the placement was very well thought-out as traslations between projects were very quick and smooth.
At first, I received training about safety and laboratory equipment used on site. Additional trainings about software used while working on projects were made throughout the placement. I also had a chance to participate in the training which gave me an insight into different aspect of the company's everyday activities than the one I worked on.
Flexi Time
Company Car
National Travel
International Travel
Company Parties/Events
Working from home
Healthcare/Dental
I think that the company provides good employment prospects for placement students as there are many graduate roles which are the contiunation of the job performed by a student during their 12-month long internship. Students also receive trainings which give them a better insight into more complex and difficult parts of the company's activities.
The Culture
Yes, there were good social relations amongst placement students as well as graduates as people were outgoing and willing to meet up outside working hours. Going out together to play games, to pubs and anywhere else helped in forming better bonds and gave a chance to learn more about each other.
The cost of living and socialising I would estimate as 'average'. I rented a room so didn't have to pay as much as people who rented a flat. I also lived outside the city centre, therefore, I had to spend more time on commuting to work. When it comes to socialising, going out every couple of weeks was quite menegeable.
The Nightlife was also 'average' as there were quite a few pubs out of which only two were pretty cheap. There were two clubs I know in the city centre so there was not much choice, however, music and atmosphere were good. There were many places to eat at night which was very nice.
I would say that you could find something you like. There were plenty of gyms and swimming pools with discounts for students. However, because the city was not too big the choice was rather limited, I think. There are some cities nearby which may offer different types of activities to get involved outside of work.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Engineering
South East
July 2019