Applied Science - Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement year, it was a great opportunity to meet new people and work in a different environment preparing me for future employment.

I felt very valued by my colleagues, there is no full timer/ student divide everyone helps each other to get the jobs done. There is a good team spirit across site, and everyone is approachable if you need help.

I was given plenty of support by my supervisor and other members of the department as well as other departments, if I needed guidance on pieces of equipment, everyone was willing to help.

I was busy on a daily basis, but not to overloaded with work a good amount.

I was given a good amount of responsibility each day being left to run test independently, this increased my confidence in the labs.

The independence I have gained throughout my year in industry has given me more confidence in the lab this will help next year when carrying out my masters research project back at university. I have been given the opportunity to present this year, this is extremely helpful as at university don't get that many chances to present. This year has helped me decide that I want to go into R&D once I have finished university.

The atmosphere across the Applied Science department is very friendly and everyone is willing to help each other. Everyone is approachable and it is a really great environment to work in.

The placement is well organised, a god balance between lab based activities and office based. Several check ins with HR was completed to make sure we was doing ok. The recruitment process was ok for the Applied Science department, there was an online application form, telephone interview and an assessment centre. The assessment centre was fairly relaxed not to intense.

Throughout the year we had to complete online assessments on health and safety and at the start a medical was conducted as well as at the end to. There is subsidised events as well, which are great as get to meet new people. There were many opportunities to develop throughout the year.

I would definitely consider going back to Lubrizol in the future.

The students all lived within close proximity to each other and fairly close to Derby centre. This made socialising easy as could just meet up in town. We have done a number of activities together such as: badminton, laser questing, cadburys world, trampolining, nights out, bowling and shopping trips.

Derby is fairly cheap for living if just get a student house.

The nightlife is ok in Derby, but Nottingham is close and regular buses to get there.

There are some opportunities to get involved in outside of work badminton is on every monday night. As well as other socialising events.