Undergraduate Engineer Review

My placement was thoroughly interesting and engaging. I was subjected to many different areas of civil engineering which enabled me to build on my knowledge through practical experience. The work I undertook challenged me to achieve the best of my abilities and gave me a real appreciation for the industry. My work was mostly enjoyable and I always saw how the tasks I was undertaking were relevant and important to the overall progress of the project.

My colleagues were extremely welcoming to me on my arrival into the team. They were friendly to me in work and quickly made me feel part of the team. The strong team nature helped me to form good work relationships within the team which enhanced my learning and comfort in work. I received great encouragement by my colleagues and they helped me to achieve my best work whilst building on my confidence in my abilities.

I was always encouraged to speak up and ask questions during my time on placement which significantly enhanced my learning. I had great support from my supervisors which helped me to quickly adjust to my responsibilities. My supervisors were very understanding and patient in teaching me new concepts I had not encountered before and they supported me throughout my work so that I became confident in what I was doing. They always took time out of their day to assist me when I asked for support.

I had a wide variety of tasks to undertake throughout the day, these tasks evolved throughout my time on placement. I was regularly challenged with new work which widened my experience. I balanced various roles throughout the day which kept my placement engaging. For the most part, these tasks did not make me excessively busy but if that happened then I would be given extra support as soon as it became a problem for me.

At the beginning of my placement I shared responsibilities with an engineer that I shadowed. As I became competent in my work I was given my own responsibilities which evolved into me managing my own work load. I never felt like I was not able to manage the responsibilities I was given as I always had sufficient support. I was challenged with the work I was given which greatly enhanced my learning and gave me great experience in a wide variety of areas.

My placement has given me valuable experience in the areas I have studied at university. It has also taught me new concepts I had yet to encounter in my studies. As a result of this, my placement will certainly assist me in continuing my studies. The training I received was engaging and useful to my work and also built upon my knowledge which will assist throughout my studies. My placement has given me a real appreciation for the industry which will be beneficial to me throughout my career.

The general atmosphere in the office was professional yet very friendly. The office was quiet enough to concentrate and work effectively yet not too quiet that it felt uncomfortable to work in. I was regularly encouraged to go up to various people and talk to them when I needed anything, this helped with getting to know people in the office. Everyone knew each other in the office and people were very friendly, occasionally stopping to talk and see how each other was doing.

I received regular communication leading up to starting my placement. Any queries I had were quickly answered and I was given a phone number and email to contact if I had questions. Each stage of the recruitment process was clear and dealt with promptly. Throughout my placement I was given sufficient support and good advice on where I could improve to further strengthen my learning experience. Towards the end of my placement, I was given clear and useful advice which was helpful in leaving the project.

At the start of my placement I was given plenty of support and training which was useful I came into the role with very little relevant experience. I built up my confidence and competence in a wide variety of areas due to this training I received. I was also invited to some training sessions on certain topics such as temporary works - this was engaging and interesting. I would have liked to be invited to more training sessions as some of my colleagues attended a few more than me. However, I still attended a good amount which was very useful for me.

Future employment prospects with John Sisk & Son are very appealing to me. I have asked numerous graduates about their experience in the Sisk Excelerate scheme and they all speak very highly of it. The experience I have gained has been immensely beneficial and the team I have worked with has been very supportive. John Sisk & Son have shown to me that their projects are full of great opportunities and the atmosphere is professional and supportive.

Other placement students were very friendly and keen to socialise with each other. There was a good scene around socialising with work colleagues.

My placement took place in Manchester. The cost of living in the city centre was fairly high. Outside of the centre in the area surrounding Manchester there was plenty of options for accommodation at very affordable costs, these mostly involved sharing a house or flat with someone else. The cost of food and drink in the city was reasonable in most places, with excellent access to shops all around the city. Overall I would consider Manchester an affordable place to live.

There were opportunities to get involved with various activities outside of work. The key one was a weekly five-a-side football sessions which colleagues organised.