John Review

I really enjoyed my work placement as I was involved in a variety of activities and responsibilities. It was far beyond what I expected. I did not expect the level of responsibility I was given. I was also given exposed to a lot of training and development opportunities in both technical and non-technical subjects which would be useful in my future career.

I felt very valued my colleagues. My colleagues were very supportive. They really made me feel encouraged and welcome. I was given major responsibilities and key areas to head. I was also given the opportunity to use a significant amount of skills I gained at Uni to support key projects. I would definitely love to work with them again.

My manager was very helpful and supportive. He was a very strong mentor throughout my internship period. He played a significant role in my development. He was happy to give me the opportunity to develop myself. He regularly gave constructive feedback on the things I am very good at and some areas I need to improve on.

I would say I was busy almost all throughout the day. I am someone who enjoys working in a busy and fast-paced environment, so I did not mind at all. I was involved in a lot of activities and I was also given several responsibilities so it was never a dull moment for me. I can count the number of times I have had to sit down doing nothing to be honest.

I was definitely given a high level of responsibility! It made me feel more like I was doing a real job as I was working on real life projects. I was also given the opportunity to lead some projects, in which the outcomes could have a significant effect on the team. I could not have asked for more, definitely!

The skills I have developed, and the training I received would really assist me in my degree studies and beyond. On the start of my placement, I had the syllabus of some of the modules I would be taking in my final year, so as to help me know some of the things I need to really learn. I can confidently say I was able to learn a significant amount of things regarding each module prior to my final year.

The general atmosphere in the office was very sociable and relaxed. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. There was a lot of banter and fun as well as good work ethic. Everyone was also very helpful. I could go to anyone to ask for help without having to think twice about it.

The overall work placement was organised. It was difficult to really organise in terms of the project I worked on as it was an innovation and design consultancy. Projects could come and go without much anticipation as expected. Other than that, everything else was very organised. The learning and develop structure was definitely very organised.

The future employment prospects within the organisation are very appealing. In terms of employee development, progression and satisfaction, I would say 3M is doing a very good job in that area. 3M is generally happy to take back placement students and I would not mind going back to the organisation.

The cost of living and socialising in the area I worked in was very decent. I would not say it was cheap but it was definitely affordable. I had my placement down south so this was expected. I would say it was relatively cheap compared to other cities around. I was able to get one of the cheapest accommodations around which is about £370 a month for an ensuite room.