Software Engineer Review

The year gave me great experience and i was fully integrated into a project development team. I was given proper work to complete with strict deadlines and left to solve many problems on my own. The year was gave me the opportunity to solve problems and work with people from all over the company as well as meet many colleagues and discuss other roles within the company. I didnt feel like an intern, but like a full-time employee at the company.

I was immediately given proper work to complete in order to progress the project i was working on. This meant i got to work closely with people not just on my team but also across my department. I had to solve issues for people in different sectors and many queries were directed towards me. The work i completed was well received by my team and i was given useful feedback just as anyone else on the team does. The feedback was always given politely and was constructive.

My manager and point of contact were always there to help if i needed. Within the first week at the company i had met many people i would be working with and was also given introductions to the company and how my team functions. I felt immediately welcomed and informed. I was also guided through all the initial set up when joining the company. Throughout the year i was able to contact my manager directly and get help with anything. I never felt lost or stuck as i could ask anyone on my team for help.

The first few months begun slowly with a lot of IT to set up and information to read and understand. I eventually got given more and more tasks which required more intense work and time. This lead to me being in charge of larger sections of work and allowing me to get much more involved with the entire project. This work did build up at some points requiring me to work longer hours which i actually enjoyed. While the year started with less work it does start to build up.

Once i was settled into the placement i was given more and more tasks to complete and was put in charge of larger sections of the project. Any work i was assigned was left to me to complete unless i needed help, which allowed me to crack on and find my own solutions to problems. The tasks i carried out where submitted under my name with it being up to me to respond to any queries or issues surrounding it.

The skills gained throughout the year will definitely improve my work ethic and give me a better idea of what work I can expect once i graduate. The experience of applying my skills in a real working environment has also given me a better idea of what modules to take and what areas i want to research more in to. I also picked up many new skills in software engineering which i can apply to my project at university or in further places of work. The skills are definitely more based on work ethic, rather than just technical knowledge.

The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. You are encouraged to walk around the office to go and find colleagues and ask for any help. Everyone is very polite and helpful and i was never looked down upon as an intern. You are also encouraged to take regular breaks and go for walks around the office to get coffee and stretch your legs. The kitchen facilities are excellent and meeting rooms are easy to book and use.

Before starting the internship there was a lack of communication from the careers team and the initial start date and location was confusing. This needs to be improved for clarity next time. However, once starting at the company you are given a few introduction days to meet your fellow interns and get an overall views of how the company works. This was very useful and gave me time to settle into the role. Once you get to meet your manager it is up to them to give you work and involve you in the team. My manager was brilliant and i was guided through setting up IT and getting equipment straight away. I was then given my first tasks a few days in to the internship which meant i was busy right from the start.

I was given many opportunities to learn new skills and expand my knowledge. I completed lessons on the company qualities and security information and attended presentations on continuous improvement and agile working. The company encouraged gaining new skills and I travelled to the other office to attend events and meet different people. I was also encouraged to gain experience in other sectors of the company and my manager would help set up one to one sessions to gain added knowledge.

Future prospects at the company are very appealing with the company offering an interesting and unique graduate scheme. I was encouraged to look into this throughout my placement and i like the idea of spending even longer within the company and continuing work on the project. I felt as if i was just another full-time employee at the company, and not an intern which has made me really want to return in a more involved role at the company.

The first few days on the internship all the placement students attended an introduction event together which allowed us to get to know one another. This hugely improved the social scene as we regularly spent time together throughout the year. The early careers and graduate teams organised many social events out in Birmingham which were fun and allowed me to meet other graduates, interns and apprentices. A few of the interns also played badminton regularly after work.

I managed to stay where I was living for university from the previous year which meant I didnt have to find a new place to live in. This made the transition to working easy and no more expensive than before. The company will also help you find accommodation if necessary which is useful. As I lived where there was a strong student setting, socialising and going out was not too expensive and was definitely manageable as i was earning during my internship. Living in the area was priced okay as i shared with 5 other people.

Nightlife was not too bad around work as the graduate team often organised nights out in Birmingham. These were far from where i lived however travelling into the city was easy via the trains and busses. I mostly still socialised back where i lived with students from my university as it was cheaper and easier to get to. However, the nightlife in Birmingham is excellent with great places to eat and drink and stay out all night if you fancy.

The company offered a few extra groups to join outside of work. Such as language classes, music sessions and sports clubs. However these were slightly limited and less easy to become a part of. A few interns played badminton at the local sports centre (5 minutes from work) every week which was fun. Most activities outside of work will be up to individual people to organise, and the company does have good ways to communicate any activities you are planning with fellow colleagues.