Undergraduate Software Developer Trainee Review

I really enjoyed it. I was studying Software Development, mainly web based applications, and I was placed in a team of software developers who develop web-based tools for the business. It was a perfect fit as it was exactly what I had been studying. I enjoyed it a lot because I could apply what I learned in a practical setting, so the experience was very rewarding.

I did feel like a valued member of the team. I was not treated as a temporary helper, but just like another team member, pretty much from the moment I started. My input was listened to and I could put forward my own ideas, so I felt that my opinions and contributes were valued.

I've always been an independent worker, so I found out a lot of answers for myself, but for those times when I couldn't, I definitely had my manager's support. I wasn't micro-managed, which I liked, but my manager always gave me his full attention when I spoke to him, and gave me the right direction and guidance to help me do my best.

I was treated just like any other team member, so I was given the same level of work, which I liked. The days went quickly, but that was because I was doing what I loved. It was like practical studying, applying what I had learned in my course, so I was contributed to the business but reinforcing my knowledge. It never felt like work, and by basically studying while working I was actually more free after work.

I was working with another team member on a project, who gave me my assigned tasks, but that was just 'what' to do, not 'how' to do it. I was fairly free to accomplish my tasks using my own ideas and knowledge, as long as I achieved the goal. So while I was given direction on my tasks (they needed to be consistent with other developers' work), I felt that I was responsible for my own pieces of work, in terms of their quality, effectiveness and being done by a fixed deadline.

The practical experience was invaluable. Being able to apply my knowledge really helped identify weak points and reinforce how my studies fit in with a wider, working system. Most of my studies focused on the computer logic, but I gained experience in front end technologies (web pages) as well as databases, which my studies had not touched on much. I felt much more confident in being able to effectively apply my knowledge to solve real world problems.

Loud but friendly. There was an emphasis on achieving the goal, but not so much how to do it. People were very sociable and the office was very lively, but the job still got done. Sometimes it got a bit too noisy, but overall it was a very nice place to work, and it wasn't at the expense of getting good results, which I have found in other places I've worked in where people either talk or work. My office had both, which was a welcome change.

My placement was very well organised. There was a full day induction on the placement where we were given a full briefing on the placement itself, the company, what was expected of us and future opportunities. Throughout the placement we were given electronic resources and emails fully briefing us on upcoming events so we were well prepared in advance. The company also has an online portal with information for all employees which was very useful, particularly the site map because this company is huge! I didn't have any problems knowing when something needed to be done, or how to accomplish it. I am also fully aware of my options for the future so I can plan my next goals effectively.

For my main placement, I was given a lot of hands on experience just by actually doing my job, applying my studies in a practical setting. I could also ask my colleagues any technical questions, learning from their experience as well as getting recommendations for quality resources to consult. Placement students were also given a curriculum on online learning as well as five free courses on topics such as communication skills, time and pressure management and project management. Overall I was given a lot of on the job training but also course-based training which in turn I could readily put into practice. I felt like they considered placement students as future employees, not just temporary helpers.

Future employment prospects are very good. We've already had a briefing on future graduate placements, and I've had an offer that if I want to and there are places available, I will have a graduate position in 2017. However, I studied with the Open University, so I was still studying while working, and I actually finished my degree before my placement ended. My manager was so keen to keep me on that he's offered me a job at the end of my placement!

The company is large, so outside of the placement briefings I didn't actually meet many of other placement students. However, when I did, we all got along and everyone was very friendly and helping each other. I'm not much of a social person, so I didn't meet anyone outside of work, but the opportunities were there, with a graduate forum that organised events, both social and charity-based, which I heard were very popular amongst both the graduate and placement students.

I lived on my own anyway, and I don't like going out much anyway. so can't really comment on socialising, but my living arrangements didn't change other than my commute being longer. However, the company did offer a park and ride bus service which effectively cut my daily total mileage from 60 to 30 miles, so a 50% saving in petrol costs. The salary I received was also comparable to the jobs I had had previously, so all in all my standard of living was unchanged.

The company is next to a small town in the country, and I got the bus in so I didn't really experience much of the surrounding area. I also got in at 6:30am and left at 3:30pm, so I wasn't really there during the night time. However, it is not too far from Leamington Spa and Warwick which I know a lot of employees live in or go out in, so there are lots of things to do there typical of any decent sized town or city.

While I don't socialise much, there were plenty of opportunities. My colleagues would go out playing Snooker, and my office regularly organised small social gatherings as well as Christmas parties, etc. There was also a graduate forum that organised larger social events as well as charity fundraisers. With employees living all over the Midlands and having long commutes, socialising outside of work wasn't always convenient, but despite that many opportunities were available.