Junior Engineer, Electronics & Software. Part of the Smart Factory Solutions Team

Ali Al Badra

Engineering

Placement (10 Months+)

ASMPT

Tell us about your time so far at ASM?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at ASM so far. At the start I was given mini projects to familiarize myself with the different tools being used within our team as well as the types of data and projects that I will be dealing with in the future. As time passed by and I gained more confidence with the tools used I started getting tasked with larger projects where the experience I gained in the earlier weeks have helped me get on with those projects and actively take part in project planning and discussions with project leaders. I feel like my placement has been structured in a way to ensure concrete improvement; increasing responsibilities and project difficulty as time goes on while I gain more and more experience. Moreover, I highly appreciate the fact that my voice is always heard during project planning and meetings, and that each task I am assigned is of importance to the workflow of the whole department regardless of how small it is.

Have you been given guidance and support in your role?

Yes, I have always been able to seek help from my manager or the other mentors in our team who have been extremely supportive. In situations where they have not been able to help, I was always guided to the personnel able to assist me. In general, I can safely say that I felt a positive and supportive atmosphere within ASM that ensured my development in the 2 months that I have been working here.

What were the perks on your work placement?

I have been using Flexi Time to comfortably manage my own working hours. I have also taken advantage of the corporate gym membership at Zone Fitness to use their excellent facilities at a discounted price. I am also well aware of additional perks that I am yet to use, such as the Cycle To Work Scheme offered by ASM and other major companies around the UK.

What has ASM done to make you feel safe at work due to the pandemic?

ASM has been extremely supportive of its placement students during the pandemic; ensuring their placements go as planned in spite of the ongoing situation. In line with government advice, some students whose roles could be carried out remotely were asked to work from home. In addition, while aiming to limit the spread of the virus within the company, ASM has separated the various teams into different zones; limiting face-to-face contact between staff members within the company and ultimately avoiding developing an outbreak. Furthermore, staff members are always following health guidelines on-site; from wearing masks and gloves in the event of a face-to-fae meeting to sanitizing and keeping 2-meter distance at all times. Overall, I felt quite safe and comfortable working on site in the time that I did, and when there was cause for concern the management acted promptly to change working arrangements of some teams, including the one I’m in, to work from home. In doing so, we were even allowed to borrow office equipment to comfortably set up work-stations at home; which shows the level of support we received and for which I am grateful.