Mechanical Engineer Review

The work was challenging and they actually gave me useful and worthwhile tasks to perform. You could often see the end result also. The work was also interspersed with administrative tasks (such as parts ordering, etc.) that gave me a good overall picture of how the business was run and gave me a break every now and again from the really challenging work.

I never felt like I was worthless - I was involved in everything to do with the overall design of the machines of the projects I worked on. I was never asked to do any 'rubbish' jobs that the others weren't also expected to perform. I was given a good deal of responsibility in the projects.

The management were excellent with explanation of tasks and design. They always had time to explain anything I was not familiar with and share knowledge. They took time to demonstrate anything I was not happy with.

I always had something to do (and this doesn't include stuff like filing) - it was always something engineering-based.

I was given a fair deal of responsibility. I performed a great deal of testing for a project that I had to present the results of to top-level engineers of a large American multi-national company. I was given a test-rig to design by myself and follow through to assembly and test. I was involved in presentations to customers.

The skills I picked up from the placement have helped me in my design project so far. It is easily noticeable which of the students have been on placement and which haven't in terms of the design process, how professional they are and how much knowledge they have - engineering and things like pricing, lead-time, business practices, etc.

All of the employees were highly professional. There was a very friendly atmosphere in the office - everyone talked to everyone else.

Everything was set up very well between the University, 3P and myself. However, the University never got round to visiting (presumably because the company is quite small).

Although I never had ant 'official' training, there was a great deal of tacit knowledge passed on at every interval from management about matters of: design, engineering, business practices, etc.

I have another placement already set up for the summer.

There were no other placement students during my time there!

I lived in Birmingham and commuted to Warwick (half an hour by train). Pretty cheap really - and great for going out, etc.