This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.2/5
  • The Role
    3.7
  • The Company
    3.3
  • The Culture
    2.4

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • Work has been varied and challenging. I have been placed in situations and enormous pressure and stress in which I have thrived on learning opportunities. Work has always been interesting, even if a hard-slog and times. Truely a fantastic company to be involved in. Also, there cannnot be a more rewarding way to finish a job than watching it take-off.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • Placement system means that the people you work directly for are not paying for you. This gives an aspect of disengagement from the team as a "free resource". However, as a graduate entering jobs that might not normally employ from the fresher employment market, it is possible to bring skills to the workplace that are hugely valued by employers and place a high demand on your abilities. At times I have been pulled in numerous ways by demands from managers to be utilised on a range of tasks.

    3/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • Similar comments to above on local, team-level, guidance. HR system of employment means that there is always a central control point for undergraduates to report to or ask questions. Support is readily available and easily approachable.

    4/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Apart from the odd-occasion where I have been "seperated" from the team, arising from being en employee of a seperate department, I have been under high levels of workload at all times. My centre line rating applies here as the swings in the workload have been quite dynamic, however this is not a a big issue, as the periods of over-working have been thoroughly enjoyable and a tremendous challenge.

    3/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • At times I have been guided quite closely and allowed to develop with assistance and low-risk of causing problems in my work. At others though I have been tasked with acting very autonomously. Roles I have been involved in have been to comission a test-rig by myself, initiate testing and bring suppliers and contractors on the matter to the same table to discuss results and methods. I have been responsible for devloping methods of flight-data analysis that will form a fundemental part in assessing system quality and verifying design performance.

    4/5

  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • The work I have been involved in at BAE Systems places my degree in a wholly different context. I am more confident that I understand the application of the many areas of theory that form my degree programme and sure of my capabilities to operate in a team or run such a team.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • Having worked in four different locales as part of the placement scheme I have worked in a range of office scenarios. It has typically been enjoyable, with work on a test-rig being a very team-based effort, having to work alongside others to ensure test facilities were constanly manned. I was involved in working on a shift rota at this time. Office work has always a relaxed feel to it, regardless of the pressure everyone can be under at times. Being on a large, high security base can be strange, nto having contact with people from "outsie", but provides a good range of facilities to accomodate for various interests.

    3/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • Everything ran well. Finding placements internally proves quite easy as you are a "free resource" to each department.

    4/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • There were random training courses held by managers and other people from the firm. I also learnt a lot from on the job training as my managers were very talented!

    4/5

  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
  • Flexi Time

    Subsidised Canteen

    Above 25 days holiday

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • 99% certain to be on the graduate scheme following graduation. They should be confirming the shortly. Most likey placement students are offered jobs.

    3/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Small undergraduate intake this year meant that keeping contact was difficult.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Cost of living good (compared to Manchester). Not particularly much to do in the area however. Living in the Preston area will be a big down-side to a graduate job here.

    3/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • Preston not he best place for a night out!

    1/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • There were but i never go involves. They had three peaks challenge going but it was too much of a time commitment

    3/5

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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

North West

April 2013


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