Vacation Student (Electrical) Review

I enjoyed being able to experience a new work environment and learning how to use various engineering software. I was working on real projects where my work actually counted for something which made it feel all the more worthwhile, but due to the nature of the work, and the timing of the placement, I was only able to work on two projects.

The whole office had a friendly and relaxed atmosphere about it which helped when approaching new colleagues for help, and for general socialisation. I got on well with the people in my team and felt like the work I completed was valued by the other members, as it was for an actual project which mattered to the company.

I was always able to get help with my work from various people, but unfortunately my manager was not always available due to important meetings and trips. This meant I did not have much contact with them, but when I did they provided plenty of support and guidance for my work.

For the majority of the placement I had plenty to be getting on with, but there were a few occasions where the person providing the work was away on site visits and I would have nothing to do. Fortunately this did not happen often and mostly near the end of the day. One of the projects required work to be checked so this provided an opportunity for more work when needed.

During my placement I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility as I was working on my own piece of work for the project. Of course I was always able to confer with my colleagues and ask for help or guidance if required, but it was mostly left to me to make decisions.

All of the skills I have gained during the placement are invaluable as they are not usually taught on my course. I was able to learn new engineering software which is used widely in industry and which are highly desirable for companies. I was also able to develop my soft skills which are often overlooked in academia, and I have also gained an understanding of how an effective company operates.

The office was a very relaxed and friendly place. Everyone was approachable and the office had a hot desking system in place which meant I was able to sit by new people everyday in order to get to know them better. I was also able to help myself to tea or coffee at will which helped me focus at the task at hand, and I was able to have my lunch break whenever I wanted provided I came back at the appropriate time.

The placement was set up quite well and everything you needed to know was provided to you, although it would have been nice to have an introduction or guide on how to use new software, instead of having to ask someone more knowledgeable. It was good being able to get on with the project work though which seemed ready for me as soon as I joined.

There were some mandatory training sessions mainly for health and safety, but there were plenty of other opportunities provided through the companies online system which allows you to enrol on online courses for further training.

Future employment prospects with the company seem quite appealing, with the placement giving me a head start with any future applications to the company. There seemed to be good opportunities for promotions and further qualifications once part of the company, and feedback from non-senior staff is taken into account regularly at ideas forums.

There were plenty of opportunities to socialise with my fellow colleagues, although as a new member of staff it was easy to be missed out on some emails, but it was easy to get involved just by asking other colleagues in your team.

The cost of living is relatively low, and most things are reasonably priced, although there are still places which offer more high end accommodation and nightlife if that is more suited to your budget. Unfortunately like most cities the city centre is more expensive to live in and so there is a bit of a walk if you prefer to spend less, but there are plenty of transport links also available at reasonable prices.

The nightlife is very good and there is a whole host of bars and pubs to choose from, as well as clubs. There is a good variety as well so there is something for everyone, whether it's indie, pop, rock, dance or any other music genre, there is bound to be something to your taste.

There were plenty of opportunities to get involved with outside of work such as a company barbecue, where food and drinks were provided and you could get to know people from the office, even ones from other teams who you may have never seen before. Some Fridays, after work drinks would be organised which provided a good way to end the week and to get to know your team better, and there is also a football team to join if you enjoy playing.