Project Engineer Review

The placement was very enjoyable I had a lot of responsibility and exposure and was making decisions with a real impact on JLR manufacturing operations, I also found the teams I was in were very welcoming and supportive and that I really wasn't treated as an 'Undergrad' but as an engineer.

Very, I was always receiving and providing support and we all got on as a strong team. In the wider cross functional teams I worked in I was extremely valued and treating like any other representative of the department.

I had a lot of support from my management with regular 1:1's and reviews as well as flexible working and opportunities to go and see and have placements within other departments. My direct supervision were also very supportive allowing me to get involved in any project that interested me.

In general I had a decent level of workload however there was definite fluctuation. I did have periods where there was very little going on but during this I was able to experience other areas to keep myself entertained, on the flip side there were some moments of high stress and workload during new model launches where long hours of overtime was required.

By the end of my placement I was lead engineer on multiple projects and a single point of contact for senior managers in multiple departments.

I always had good academic and technical skills but the project management skills and interpersonal skills I learned as well as the general experience of a professional environment will stick with me for the rest of my career.

The atmosphere was very good, people always stopping for a chat and a laugh.

The application process was very professional and seamless and the placement itself was well organised and structured with company wide undergrad events and conferences. The only issue I had was whilst the placement was being arranged there were a few changes from what I had originally been told in terms of department and location.

The personal development was the same as any other employee in JLR, I had regular development meetings against my development plan and objectives and access to all the off site training available to full time employees. locally my manager also encouraged all my requests to move around within the department and have a secondment to another department to develop other skills and techniques.

As a result of my end of placement performance review I was offered a place on the graduate scheme subject to certain conditions.

Being in manufacturing there weren't many other undergrads in my area but there was some team socials with my colleagues in my department. However the social scene in most other departments is very good

I went to uni nearby so the cost of living and socialising was what I was used to, expensive but not extortionate.

Nightlife is good, a lot of universities in the general area so very lively and as a local student I already knew where to go.

There are many activities available but enthusiasm for them was lacking in my area.