Systems Engineering Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at GE, I worked with some amazing people who are very talented at what they do. To be given the chance to work alongside them and help them was a great feeling!

Extremely, I was included in meetings with the customer and even got to visit the customer in another country. Only four people travelled on that trip to the customer and for an intern to be picked as one made me feel valued and that the work I was doing was appreciated.

Advice and guidance was always available whenever I asked for it. People are obviously extremely busy but they will always make time to help you if you ask.

Obviously day to day it varied however I was always given work as soon as a task was nearing its conclusion. If I didn't receive work from my manager I knew there was always other work to be doing so you can be proactive too.

I was given lots of responsibility, in charge of documents during meetings with the customer, even organising and leading a technical calls for a week with the customer on one occasion. This meant instructing experienced engineers to do the work I needed them to do before the meeting with the customer, acting as a temporary technical lead, which was a great challenge but it was one I loved and was a success!

I have become a far more organised and strategic person in the way I work now. I feel this will help me when I return to university as it will help me to study in the most efficient way possible.

The atmosphere varied day to day as deadlines cause people to get stressed and irritated when things are a struggle. On the whole however this did not mean people were hostile, people were always willing to help, talk to you which created a really friendly work environment meaning I enjoyed going to work each day.

I would say this is the only part of my placement that could do with extra work. The people in charge of interns could keep in touch a bit more and send useful information to you on a regular basis I feel. However, I overcame this by being proactive and searching things out myself, if you ask people they will point you in the right direction, so it really is down to you about the opportunities you want as an intern.

I have been on numerous training days becoming a STEM ambassador for example. There has been technical training too dependent on what is useful to the assigned project you work on. If you want more training you can ask your manager who will do their best to help you in this.

I am looking at applying for a leadership program offered to graduates, I will be applying for this before the end of my placement so before I return to University I should know whether I have been successful or not which will be a great load off my mind.

You get to know the interns and colleagues around you very well, most weeks I am doing something with them after work, whether it is going for a meal, bowling, playing pool etc. It is a great way to relax after work and build better relationships for the workplace.

Housing was a bit expensive to rent as it was a desirable location to live, however the socialising aspect was no more expensive than anywhere else in the UK.

It isn't the largest town so obviously there are only certain places to go in terms of nightlife. However the places that do exist are very nice and are good fun.

Colleagues obviously ask about your interests and usually someone will know the best place to go for this activity, usually someone in work will even play it too, inviting you along.