DMS Project Coordinator Review

My work placement at Volkswagen Group UK was an enjoyable year and a fascinating insight into the automotive industry. I gained a tremendous amount of experience which will be invaluable when applying for graduate schemes. Volkswagen Group UK was a great company to work for as my role was varied which kept the year interesting and stimulating.

My colleagues were extremely welcoming when I began my placement year, offering help whenever it was required and arranging meetings to introduce my role and the tasks that I would encounter. They were very understanding of the fact that I was a student and new to the workplace and therefore work was not thrown upon me, instead it was a more gradual process.

The guidance I received from my manager was very helpful as it was maintained at regular intervals to see how I was progressing and managing with the workload. These meetings were on a weekly basis and at a one to one level, providing personal support as well as discussing work matters.

The level of how busy I was did vary somewhat and sometimes there were days when I had little to do. This was often the case when my managers were busy dealing with other meetings and did not have the time to assign me tasks. However, the project plans were very detailed and I had weekly tasks in those which I could refer back to and get on with. When the rest of the office was busy, I too was busy!

Before starting my placement, I was told by my predecessor that my placement would be varied and I would be given a high level of responsibility. This proved to be the case as I was given some really meaningful tasks throughout my year which really developed my skills. For example, this included setting up a virtual retailer room on site where we could advertise the product to prospective retailers.

The skills developed throughout my placement year will greatly enhance my prospects for getting a graduate job as the year in the workplace was invaluable. It improved my skills of public speaking, dealing with customers as well as colleagues in the workplace and gave me a look into how a large company is run. Furthermore, the data analysis I undertook will assist in my university studies next year.

The atmosphere of the office was a positive environment to work in, Monday mornings were never hard! Everyone was upbeat and seemed to enjoy their role in the company, there was a real sense of camaraderie amongst work colleagues which did help me to settle into my role. A friendly place to work.

The work placement was organised very efficiently and the company is very geared towards student’s needs as there are almost forty placement students at Volkswagen Group UK. As a way of introductions into the company, various induction days were held such as ‘All About VWG’ and ‘Being an Employee’. In addition, Excel courses were provided to improve competency with this vital programme.

There was a significant amount of training invested in me by the company which improved my personal development and gave me skills which will be very helpful upon graduating from university. This included courses which not only helped during the year but for my university studies such as Excel and PowerPoint training.

Despite enjoying my year spent with Volkswagen Group UK, I do not think I will look to undertake the graduate scheme. I think I would like to try a different industry and use the skills gained in another workplace. This is not to say that future employment prospects are not appealing, the salary is very competitive, there is a good amount of holiday and a company car is a huge bonus.

There was a good social scene amongst fellow placement students although this was organised by ourselves. This included weekly games of five a side football and we often organised nights out or barbecues. Amongst colleagues, there was less of a social scene although team building exercises on away days helped to build relationships.

Our rent was not too expensive as we shared a house between four people so it worked out similar to university accommodation. However, I did find the cost of living expensive, particularly in terms of going out and buying drinks in bars. As a result, I did not go out often in Milton Keynes.

The nightlife in Milton Keynes was limited, offering only two clubs, and expensive. Therefore, I did not go out much and quickly got bored. London was only a short train journey away though so we were able to visit there and see friends from university, although this was also expensive. I made the most of free weekends to visit friends in places like Cambridge so got a taste of the nightlife there.

Outside of work there were plenty of activities to be involved in. There are lots of sports clubs which placement students got involved in and I went to the gym regularly to stay active. Furthermore, water sports were a popular pastime at nearby lakes. In addition, the shopping in Milton Keynes is excellent and there is a wide array of shops in the centre.