Mechanical Engineering Summer Intern Review

I found there was some variety in tasks assigned and the work undertaken was generally useful, but would have preferred more actual design work, use of software, and use of degree and practical knowledge. Instead there was a lot of editing documentation, spreadsheets etc. However, overall a useful experience.

Very friendly, engaging and welcoming colleagues. Good working environment, culture and social scene in the workplace. Strict bosses notorious for being as such by others in the business, however.

Some team members were very helpful and good at explaining tasks, whereas some really were not. I think this comes down to social skills more than anything else, not out of any laziness of malice.

Always lots of tasks to do, I worked with a particularly busy sub-team with a board of tasks that needed doing (so no shortage basically). More variety in tasks, and less documentation, would have been nice to keep me engaged, however this was just the nature of their business-critical work.

I was allowed to complete tasks fairly independently, with team members close by to give advice / supervision where appropriate. Where security clearances were granted, I completed tangible, business-critical tasks.

It was good experience of working full-time in the engineering sector, and has allowed me to construct a better roadmap of where I want to go with my degree and in the further future. It has also improved my work ethic, and furthered my professional development.

Good working environment, friendly colleagues, and good relationships with fellow interns.

Poor IT and HR support, especially for security clearances. 10 weeks in I still didn't have access to folders and security clearances that I needed to complete my work. Interview times also seemed to be random (not dependent on when you applied), and gave very little notice before taking place.

I completed various training courses, attended specialist knowledge transfer sessions, and went on various excursions around the site to different set-ups which allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of my work.

Poor graduate pay, not an ideal location for me. Good options for career progression (especially in specialist engineering fields), but overall not for me.

Yah Barrow is a dump tho

Rent was very high (£110pw) due to lack of housing supply compared to cities and exploitation by landlords of 3-month tenants- the vast majority of tenancies on the market were 12 month.

As above, Barrow is a dump I come from a post-industrial northern town but the locals out on the lash are rough, angry and lary. I'd sooner not go out at all than experience more of it in this place.

Yeah, there was a good gym, canoeing, badminton and 5-a-side football. These were just local clubs though, and doing other sport required more travel, which would have been a bit of a pain.