Alarm Management Analyst Review

I had an excellent experience working for National Grid over the course of the twelve months. It was my first experience of working a "full-time job" in a professional setting and the enjoyment I gained from my placement definitely exceeded my expectations. On occasions I found myself looking forward to going into work!

The team I was placed in treated me wonderfully and I slotted in well within the team dynamic. Despite my relative inexperience it did not take long for me to feel valued. Colleagues not from within my team treated me respectfully and were interested in what I had to contribute regardless of whether they knew I was a student or not.

The placement structure and organisation at National Grid meant there was an excellent support mechanism around me during my year. Both my immediate manager and my business coordinator held meetings with me, organised by myself at my own desired regularity. Guidance and support were personal and measured to help reach goals.

Workload was varying and without personal motivation there is a danger of becoming too bored. However at National Grid there is encouragement to take work that you feel able to do and also the ability to raise attention if you are feeling overwhelmed. Within the placement scheme at National Grid there is a lot of different work streams so there is a lot of opportunity to take more work.

I was given a reasonable amount of responsibility where I was quickly given a level of credence and credibility about my role. The importance of my contributions to the company is a focus of the placement scheme at National Grid with the idea of leaving a legacy over the course of your placement.

I have no doubt that the skills and training I have gained over the course of my 12 months will hold me in good stead in anything I choose to do in the future. Learning not only about myself and my capabilities were vital but also general skills gained will improve my final year of my degree.

The general atmosphere in the office was quiet, professional and comfortable for the most part. My team personally had a very good rapport and on occasions could be quite lively! The office had several different work spaces from more busy, noisier areas to personal work spaces and as it was a hot-desking policy there was an element of flexibility.

In general the placement was very well organised, especially once I was working within the scheme. I was pleasantly surprised at how structured and organised the scheme was. The organisation in preparation to start the twelve months was less organised but there were mitigating factors to this and in general this hasn't been a problem for other placement students.

There were lots of opportunities for training and development of skills through courses. Some of which were already organised and signed up to as part of the scheme but most can be requested and joined ad hoc. There was also plenty of opportunities for development such as knowledge share presentations and site visits.

I have been offered a spot by National Grid on their graduate scheme as a result of my twelve month placement. The time spent within the company gave me an understanding of the direction the company is going and the opportunities in employment with them. This plus my general experiences left prospects very appealing.

There was a fairly small but tight-knit group of placement students during my twelve months. We would regularly meet during work for lunch and other meetings but also out of work for drinks, meals and other social activities. This was important for a group of young people who were new to an area and new to the work environment.

Warwick is a fairly expensive area to live and socialise within. You have to look fairly well to make sure you can find the best housing situation financially. However after a period of time and with more familiarity understanding where the best and most cost-effective places to socialise in, you can manage fairly well.

Nightlife wasn't too bad but nowhere near what you would find in a city. For the size of the town however it is fairly lively. There is a student presence within the area and you can find many good pubs, bars and restaurants to socialise and enjoy if you have the opportunity.

There were several opportunities to get involved with activities in the area such as sports clubs as well as cinemas and bowling etc. National Grid also has many activities and groups you can get involved with if you desire such as exercise classes at the gym or discounts to shows at theatres.