Undergraduate Engineer Review

site management, site engineering and some design management. off site stuff was mainly project management, but as I had limited architectural experience, I had to manage risk registers, RFi schedules etc. used viewpoint, VFP, autocad, and alot of excel initially. On-site, alot of QA, fire barrrier, landscaping, RC frame, as-builts and setting out when required.

The learning wasn't strucutred, it was very much as when required you learnt, once you finsihed the work that was needed you have oppurtunities to take on more work which may be more what you want. Very much a dont ask dont get situation, everything is there that you need but its mostly about finding and creating the oppurtunity for yourself as no one will go out of their way to set you up.

it depends where you go, but in general, if its on-site you will always get an oppurunity to take on responsibility once you prove yourself, especially for a year long placement.

A decent amount from my line manager, but due to work pressures, unless you speak up and ask for help you wont recive any. its not that people are self centred, but rather that you need to communicate what help you want and be realistic about a situation, e.g. if you keep having to rely on people you're stopping them from doing their job too, doubling the damage.

the comapny as a whole has a shift in culture toward mental health support etc, the "I am here" campaign. the hours are long however, and depending on the team you get in there are the usual work politics to contend with. In general.its the same issues you'd face at any contractor, and I liked working with my collegues overall.

Overall, I think it was a eye opening experince that showed the advantages and disdvanmtages of working at a contractor, i liked working there as I enjoyed being on-site and construction as a whole and met a bunch of great people. In one sentence, "it is what you make of it", with a good attitude, you can change a frosty office culture etc.

Yes

Really make sure you're clear on the type of role you want and the sectors the company is working in. if you want on-site experience, be clear on that otherwsie you could get stuck in an office for a year! and if you do get put somewhere you dont want, make sure you let your seniors know that you want to be moved, graduate scheme students often get rotated so that vacency can get filled by a placement student etc.