Student Review

I have really enjoyed my stay at the firm. I have learnt a lot about the company and it gave me a brief idea of how I will implement my degree to real life. I believe it was a really good push for my future career and education. Aside from work, the company is very active, there are a range of activities one can join in after working hours.

My team, unlike many other teams in this company, was fairly small. Some teams consisted of 200 or more people, whereas the one I was in consisted of 12 people. I think this helped me feel valued during my stay here. Since we were a small team, we all knew one another and we all valued one another. I was afraid that as a newcomer with very limited knowledge about the industry I wouldn’t be acknowledged, but shockingly that was not the case at all. My colleagues always helped me with tasks I was struggling in and made me feel very comfortable within my placement.

I have received more guidance and support than I expected. My colleagues were very helpful and very supportive. Whenever I was stuck on any of the tasks assigned to me, my colleagues were more than happy to assist me and explain to me what should be done. Additionally, they taught me a lot about the industry and about the company values.

The skills I have developed and still am developing during my placement in this company will greatly assist me during both, my degree and beyond. I have learnt a lot about my degree and have encountered many real life situations relating to my degree that will help aid me beyond my studies.

My placement was very well-structured. During my first day I was given a checklist of stuff I needed to do throughout the week during my induction. After that, my colleagues kept giving me some tasks that needed to be completed. After every working week, every employee must fill out a timesheet of all the work they have done during the week. I thought the whole placement was organized and well-structured which helped me learn new information daily.

The workplace was somewhat lively, there is always something going on. During my placement, my team had a bake-off in which every week someone needs to get a baked entry that will be marked based on taste and appearance by a group of colleagues. By the end of the month they announce a winner for the bake-off. Aside from all the minor office activities, there are always team socials which one can go to after working hours.

The company really invested in me in terms of personal training and development. The whole team helped me in numerous ways and helped me learn about the industry. Whenever I had questions about work they were more than happy to help and assist me. The whole team were trying to develop my skills and were assisting me within the process.

My placement significantly helped me understand what it would be like to have a full time role with Atkins. There are many high role company employees that were one on summer placements like myself. I think this placement gives you a clear insight on how it would be like once you have a full time role with this renowned company.

The content and what I have learnt during my summer placement was very useful. It did indeed help me get a clearer image on my future career plan and helped me decide on my future career path. They teach you a lot during this placement and help you implement what you have learnt in university to real life situations.

Yes, I believe I was paid very adequately for this experience. The salary given was somewhat high for a summer placement student with no work experience whatsoever. I am an international student which studies in the UK. Back from where I am from, the salary that I have been paid during my placement is usually given to graduate engineering who finished their bachelor’s degree.

Yes, there are a plenty of opportunities for networking and meeting other employees within the firm. During my stay they have done several meetings for graduate engineers to meet and mingle with one another. In addition, in regards to some tasks I have done, I was required to contact several people from different offices in London

I have not been to any of the social events yet. However, there a plenty of social event/networking opportunity you could go to. There are social events almost weekly. I think these events would be helpful in the terms of networking and getting to know and socialize with your colleagues outside working hours.

Yes! The firm has a variety of activities employees can get involved in after work. These activities include almost every sport you could think of. In addition, there are many social events employees could go to. If you haven’t found something interesting to do within the firm, you can always start up an outside work society.

I would absolutely recommend this to a friend. I have learnt a lot during my placement and have gotten a clearer idea of how my future job might look like. It is really hard to judge on a degree by just studying it, one must always implement what he/she is learning. I found this placement a great opportunity to implement my degree in real life situations.