Software engineer Review

by Metaswitch Networks

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

Rating

4.1/5
  • The Role
    4.2
  • The Company
    4.3
  • The Culture
    3.6

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
  • The work wasn't massively exciting, but I can't fault anything else: the internship programme was polished, the people were great, the perks were nice, pay was good.

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
  • Everyone created the impression that what I was doing was important. It was only when I probed a little deeper with some past interns that I found that in reality, most interns find that their work is trashed after they leave, and mine was likely to be no exception. Still, I was treated well.

    4/5

  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
  • Constant, unending support and guidance. Repeated reviews on everything from work to how I was fitting in to my life ambitions in general. Had the chance to speak to my manager about my supervisor, and to my manager's manager about my manager.

    5/5

  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
  • Save for a couple of days towards the end where my project was all but complete, I was never short of something to do, day to day.

    5/5

  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
  • Had my own project that I ran basically single-handedly, with assistance from a mentor for some harder aspects. It wasn't a particularly important project, but I was given almost full control.

    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 job actually wasn't massively relevant to my degree, but if I go for a career in software development, the experience here will have been invaluable.

    4/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
  • My office itself was usually quite quiet and work-focussed - although the other interns and I occasionally indulged in some more fun activities, perhaps with one or two permanent employees. The company as a whole was much more lively, with regular leisure activities and events.

    4/5

  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
  • Shockingly so. Slick application process, repeated opportunities to get help or voice opinions about the thing, and an entire day devoted to reviewing how effective the internship process was.

    5/5

  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • Several review chats and many talks and presentations about the job, plus a bunch of reading material on the intranet.

    5/5

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

    Subsidised Canteen

    Sports and Social Club

    Subsidised/Company Gym

    Financial Bonus

    Company Parties/Events

    4/5

  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
  • Several interns were interviewed and subsequently offered permanent placements.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
  • Not much partying, but the interns were very active and regularly went out to pubs, restaurants, cinema, sports etc.

    4/5

  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
  • Hard to say, since accommodation was heavily subsidised (£9/night for anyone in a company house) and there were so many nights of drinking paid for by the company, I never really had to buy a drink myself.

    4/5

  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
  • Pubs and restaurants, not much else... but close enough to central London that it isn't really a problem (provided you've someone to go with).

    3/5

  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
  • There were many leisure activities, and the interns often organised events.

    4/5

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Details

Internship (1 Month+)

London

September 2013


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