Hydromechanical Intern Review

I enjoyed my placement much more than I was expecting to. I had a role that was very much hands on, spending approximately 50% of my time in the laboratory, and 50% at my desk. I believe this was a good balance, and suited me. There were approximately 10 Interns in total, and I enjoyed the various courses outside of normal work that we participated in. The department I worked in enabled me to travel across the country on site visits. These allowed me to witness the cooperation that occurs between companies, and was extremely insightful.

I believe I was part of a very close group of people, and enjoyed being part of that group. Some of the work I was completing was almost equally important to work completed by more established colleagues. Therefore I received gratitude from members inside and outside of my department for the work I was completing. I participated in the daily stand up meetings which allowed members of the team to discuss their work and things outside of work. Outside of work I organised the Christmas social which seemed to go down as a success.

During the first few days /induction, the other Interns and I had the opportunity to speak to members of the Senior Leadership Team. This involved asking questions and listening to their advice/insights. During my placement my Line Manager provided lots of support relating to the work I was completing and my general development. I frequently had conversations with colleagues about my future and the various options I had. Throughout the office there were adverts for guidance relating to in-work and outside work issues.

During the start of my placement there were many days where I struggled to find enough work. However, as my placement progressed I became more experienced and therefore could take on more work, and the work I was completing made more sense, and I therefore could spend more time doing it. A few months into my placement I joined a business critical project which gave me more opportunity for work. There were a couple of days where I was extremely busy however, given their frequency I was able to enjoy them.

As mentioned, much of the work I was completing was extremely important, and if I hadn't completed it, it would have needed to be completed by another colleague. I therefore enjoyed some responsibility with colleagues inside and outside of my department relying on my work. Whilst working on a business critical project I undertook tasks that were critical to the project. The reason for not giving a higher score was that I received support with my work.

My hands on skills have improved, and my knowledge of the technical equipment I used, and when to use will assist in the future when participating in projects at university and in the world of work. I was placed in the Materials Department despite doing a Mechanical Engineering degree. My materials knowledge has therefore improved massively, and I now have a better idea of what is and isn't possible in the engineering world. My communication skills have also improved massively which will be beneficial in all aspects of my life.

The general atmosphere was very good. The office was fairly new having only been built a few years ago. It was also a very impressive building which I found to be motivating when walking into work. Inside it was a very open layout which allowed collaboration between departments and colleagues. There was also a mix of colleagues, and I especially enjoyed working with apprentices and graduates. I was able to work in a laboratory which gave me and my colleagues another environment to work in which contributed to a positive atmosphere.

The interviewing/onboarding process was generally well organised and was in line with other companies. However, it took some time for me to receive an offer once I had attended the assessment day. I was one of the first years of Interns where a proper induction took place. The first couple of days ran smoothly with plenty of events taking place. There were times where things did get a little quiet. I attended a meeting half way through my placement to consider what work I would complete for the final 6 months.

The company was keen for me to experience all areas of the business, and I spent time working with other departments. This allowed me to listen to fellow engineers which was extremely insightful. I also attended workshops which contributed to my personal development. These included, Agile Working and Continuous Improvement. I was also frequently given challenging work which developed my engineering and problem solving skills. The opportunity to work on a project team allowed other areas of my personal development and knowledge.

I would very much enjoy future employment at Rolls Royce. It would bring plenty of opportunities and benefits. The atmosphere at work was mostly very good, and I would be working alongside some of the countries best engineers. However, coronavirus has had a massive affect on airlines and Rolls-Royce. They are therefore making huge redundancies which will affect my chances of getting a job offer. Also the atmosphere during the end of my placement was not great as a result, and presumably this atmosphere will continue.

I was one of about 10 Interns. Our relationship was very good, and we used to eat together at lunch. We also meet outside of work for meals and drinks out. I played badminton every week with some of the Interns which took place throughout most of the year. There was also an early careers committee which organised social events (eg go-karting) for the interns, apprentices and graduates. I organised the Christmas Social for my department which seemed to go down well.

I lived at home during my placement which meant I saved a huge amount of money on rent. My office was based between Coventry and Birmingham, with much of the social events through work taking place in Birmingham. Birmingham being the second city, it can be expensive, however there is always Wetherspoons. Some of my fellow Interns rented a house in a reasonable area which was a similar amount to their university accommodation. Living in Coventry would have been cheaper than Birmingham, and living costs would be around average.

Given I was living at home I was familiar with both Coventry and Birmingham as places to go on nights out. Birmingham has plenty of bars and clubs however is on the expensive side. Coventry has less to offer, with only 1/2 clubs, although there are now plenty of bars to choose from, with 3 Wetherspoons also in the centre. Given there is two universities in Coventry (Coventry and Warwick) the atmosphere is fairly good.

There were plenty of social clubs that were advertised in the office. Anything from drone club, war hammer and plenty of sports. Some of the fellow Interns and I frequently played badminton on evenings during the week. We also had games nights. The early careers committee also hosted frequent events for example go-karting and meals/drinks out in Birmingham. I also attended social events as a member of my department and as part of a project team.