Business Planning Analyst Review

I very much enjoyed my placement year at Cummins, from the very beginning I was given responsibilities and deliverables which grew as the year moved on. I was supported in expressing my own ideas and opinions, and overall was able to make an impact on decisions at a global business scale.

Even from the first day starting at the company, I was able to express my own ideas and opinions on the working processes at the company, often stimulating change! All stakeholders at Cummins treat you like a regular employee and respect the work you are carrying out for the company, many of which have become good friends over the year.

Throughout the duration of the year, I was sat directly beside my manager with constant contact/communication between us. I was never left for prolonged periods of time with nothing to do and was given the time throughout the working day to put my stamp on our working processes, as well as carry out university deliverables in less busy times too.

Overall the balance between busy working days and quieter working days was great. Some weeks in our monthly cycle required you to work under a bit of pressure and stay later to meet deliverables, whereas others allowed you to complete smaller ad-hoc requests and university pieces with little or no pressure at all on the working day.

Throughout the majority of the second half of my placement year, my manager felt comfortable leaving me to chair and facilitate important meetings with sales leaders, and often present in front of directors at the company too. During his annual leave, he had the confidence to leave me in control of the team's deliverables, knowing he could come back to work as if he hadn't been away.

Overall, the degree I am studying and my job role at Cummins differed slightly however I was given the time to build a relation between the two, through my own personal projects I was able to link in aspects of my studies to the working processes of the team, creating a valuable output from it.

I haven't rated this a 10 at Cummins because I feel 'Fun Never Stopped' isn't exactly how a professional office environment should be described! There was however, a great working balance around the office throughout the entire year. When pressure was highest for most then the office would be quieter as stakeholders are concentrating, and then on a Friday afternoon it may be more relaxed and more casual conversation occurring.

The entire placement was organised almost perfectly. From the start we had adequate induction days and training sessions/modules to undertake, helping to build a strong understanding of the company as a global business, rather then just your department or team. There were ways for placements to get involved with clubs and societies and from the off, feel like a regular employee at the company.

Throughout the year there were various different training schemes (mandatory and optional) to enrol myself onto, allowing me to not only build my knowledge around Cummins itself but with transferable skills also. I also finished my year being awarded the 'Placement Bursary Award' through being in the top 3 out of 32 students working at the site. This included a £1000 prize as well as a letter of intent to hire me as a graduate after my studies are finished.

As mentioned previously, through being awarded the Placement Bursary I have been given a letter of intent to be hired as a graduate after my studies have finished. This has also been backed up with meeting invited with directors to discuss my graduate role options and have even been given the opportunity to tailor my own rotational programme to my desired career path.

Even without joining the Sports and Social societies and other clubs at the company, I was able to build really strong relationships with most placements and many regular employees too. The placements and myself have been bowling, camping and others even went on a skiing holiday with each other. There have been a few company dinners to socialise with managers etc. and golf evenings too with directors at the company.

Although Ramsgate itself wasn't the best place to be based when on placement, having other students living there also made it easier to fill the weekends with more fun things to do. In the summer, Ramsgate beach is nice and overall the area is definitely cheaper than London/other cities. Also in easy commuting distance is Canterbury which is a bit more expensive but has two universities for a good social scene.

As mentioned before, Ramsgate didn't have the greatest nightlife in comparison to other places you can work, however Canterbury is only a short train ride away and has great bars/clubs/restaurants etc. Living there and working at Cummins would be the ideal situation.

As said before, there is a beach nearby in Ramsgate as well as various Golf Courses and 5-a-side football pitches too. As long as you put yourself out there and actively look for things to get involved in then you can be busy all week. There are gyms and shopping centres in nearby Westwood Cross with a cinema/casino/restaurants.