Environmental Consultant Review

The placement has been very useful. the only issue with it is due to the nature of consultancy work, there wasn't much i could get involved with due to my short time at the company. i spent the majority of the placement working on my Uni work, which i could have done in the Uni library.

Everyone in the team ive been working in and in the office has been very welcoming and open. much of the work being conducted is confidential so tricky to find out lots about the work, but not the individuals fault.

The level of communication, support and guidance from my placement supervisor has been brilliant. always ready to help and advise.

Some days when i had arranged research interviews i was busy with them and the transcription of the recordings. some days i was reading journals all day, some days were slower and didn't have much going on at all. this was more due to my research project than the company itself.

Having been given a laptop and access to the intranet means i have had a level of responsibility in terms of what i can take and learn from the company. but wasn't given control of projects or reports for example. again, more due to my project than the company itself.

These are skills for life and are still being built upon. i secured a fixed term contract at the company so can continue to learn and develop my career going forward.

There is always something happening. which is good, its not silent. however, it can sometimes get too noisy if there's lots of people on phones and talking to each other etc. But i would rather that than silence all day everyday.

It was very well set up considering everyone had their own projects and deadlines to work on during quite a busy period for the company.

In terms of personal development and training was essentially left to work on my own project, which was fine as its what i was there for. but i wasn't on any training courses or activities other than the mandatory training courses when i first started about confidentiality, H&S and data misuse.

I have secured a job with them but it is currently only fixed term until Christmas. I'm hoping if i perform well, like the job and if the company like me, i can secure a full time permanent contract after Christmas.

Yes, good opportunities to meet and talk, go for lunch etc. often depends who was free when i was but good social side.

i worked in Leeds but i live in York. travel was the biggest expense, i drive to the Leeds park and ride rather than paying to park in Leeds and adding to the air pollution. the cost of petrol, the bus fare and general wear and tear on the car has been a big expense, but its been worth it.

As i said before, living in York meant i traveled back there in the evenings, did have nights in Leeds as then its tricky to get home.

Yes. emails often go round about different events and meet-ups. I also assisted on ecological surveys out of the office on different sites. this gave me new experience and a chance to meet and get to know different people.