Assistant Solution Developer Review

Greatly enjoyed my time at Prospectsoft, as the work we were given was very varied and developed a wide range of skills. I was well integrated into the core processes of the business, and felt like the work I did and the decisions I made were both important and worthwhile.

Friendly, intelligent and helpful colleagues created an atmosphere where our skills, judgement and decisions were both required and valued.

My managers were all very helpful and interested in my development as a placement student. Coupled with initiatives like the Placement Academy, I felt like I was completely supported by my managers and that if any guidance or help was required they would be very happy to give it.

Although there were definite fluctuations in work balance from busier periods or when colleagues were on holiday, overall I felt that the work load was quite well balanced. If too much work was assigned to us, then our workplans were flexible enough so that work could be moved or reassigned. If there was too little work, we were always free to help the support department and solve customer problems.

I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility, especially towards the latter half of my placement. Although I was managed, my managers gave me a good amount of leeway, freedom and control over my own workflows and decisions.

I feel the skills and abilities I both discovered and developed at ProspectSoft will be very useful in my future academic and professional life, especially my ability to make professional judgements based on my own knowledge.

The atmosphere in the office was friendly, sociable and involving. It wasn't as formal as I first expected, although there was a degree of formality.

I felt that the placement, including all the company-specific initiatives, was very well organised. ProspectSoft has a good history of being involved in placement schemes, and that experience showed.

We were given 5/6 weeks of paid training before we were able to go into our offices, so ProspectSoft definitely invested in the placements' knowledge before we were given proper work.

ProspectSoft asks back certain placements every year for a full time contract after their placement is finished, so there are good chances of gaining full time employment post-univeristy, although it is difficult to tell at this point who will be hired back.

Colleagues and fellow placements often socialised together, doing things such as meals out, paintballing, nights out etc.

The cost of living and socialising in the area we all lived was reasonable, but fluctuated widely depending on where you went.

The nightlife in our areas was ok, but was mostly dominated by Oxford students, so there was little that catered to anything other.

Given the amount of students in Oxford (where we all lived), there were plenty of opportunities for activities outside of work.