Vehicle Forecasting Analyst Review

I couldn’t have asked for a better placement! I really enjoyed taking on new tasks and developing new skills in a professional but friendly environment where my work had a direct impact on the company. I worked in Asset Risk as a Vehicle Forecasting Analyst which gave me the chance to work closely with the cars belonging to Volkswagen Group. I was one of twenty-six undergraduates so it was great to have a group of people who I could spend time with outside of work. The job came with a number of perks, such as the employee car scheme, which helped make the year as enjoyable as it was.

I was fortunate enough to work in a team who put a lot of effort into helping me and ensuring I got the most out of the year as possible. Whenever I had a question, someone would spend time going through it with me. I got on well with everyone at VWFS and we would occasionally meet up as a team outside of work to do fun things together (I wish we would have done this more often!)

I had monthly meetings with my manager where we would talk about my progress and things I needed to work on. These were really helpful as it gave me a set time where I could reflect on what I’d done for the last month and also talk through any issues I was having either at work or outside of work. However, my manager was very approachable so I wasn’t afraid to ask for help outside of these meetings if I needed it. As I became more competent in my role, I was given more and more responsibility which made me feel like a valued member of the team (and the company).

There were a number of different tasks which I was responsible for. There was a good mix of daily, weekly and monthly tasks (as well as side projects) which meant that I always had something to do; but it also encouraged me to allocate my time effectively to each task, something that is very important in any job. Some days were busier than others so I never felt too overwhelmed with the workload but I definitely felt like I had plenty to do over the course of the year and never found myself bored. During the less busy times, I was able to keep up to date with the latest news in the automotive industry by reading magazines or online articles.

I was given the same responsibility as other people in my team which really made me feel valued, and it encouraged me to do everything to the best of my ability. I would be asked to take on critical tasks to be completed within a short time period, forcing me to work under pressure. I was also able to attend important Residual Value Committee meetings where I was responsible for taking the minutes. Listening to (practically) board-level conversations meant that I was trusted with a lot of confidential information.

One of the best things about this placement year was the amount of effort VWFS put into my own personal development. They organised multiple Life-Skills sessions for the undergraduates which focused on developing/practising any existing skills and learning new ones as well. These ranged from Microsoft Excel courses to Powerful Presentation courses - the soft skills I worked on and the expert advice I was given will definitely help me in my degree studies and in any future job. Having a year’s experience working in a professional environment alone will make you more employable; however, VWFS went above and beyond to ensure that we took as much away from this year as possible.

The office environment was really good as I was based in a modern building with a colourful interior and lots of natural light. Our team would often have non-work related conversations (as well as work related ones!) because it was fine as long as the work got done and we weren’t distracting others. This meant that I had the chance to talk to lots of people around me rather than being isolated at my desk the whole day. Also, it was nice that the company didn’t have a strict dress code (smart casual) as it helped give the office a more relaxed environment. So overall, it was a very laid-back environment to work in which helped me to do my job with a positive attitude.

The placement was very well structured. After securing the job, all the undergraduates were invited to a Familiarisation Event. This was a great chance to meet everyone and get a taste of what it’s like to work for VWFS before my first day. I had monthly meetings with my manager to give me feedback on my performance and to make sure I was on track to pass probation. There were also undergraduate Life-Skills sessions to help us improve our professional skills.

The company invested a lot of time and money into my own personal development. This was in the form of Life-Skills sessions being run just for the undergraduates, where I was given expert advice and worked on a number of soft skills that would help me to perform better in my final year of university and any other future jobs. There was an Excel course, a Powerful Presentation course, a CV & Cover Letter workshop, a Networking Skills workshop plus many more.

The graduate scheme at VWFS is run every two years and my year is the one that missed out unfortunately. However, I was able to get a “fast-track” when applying to VW Group who offer a similar graduate scheme. I’d love to continue working in this exciting industry so I hope this application is successful. If not, I’d be more than happy to apply for a non-grad role at VWFS as I had such a great time there.

All of the 26 undergraduates were in a group chat and we often organised social events outside of work. About half of us commuted while the other half all lived in Milton Keynes all within 5 minutes of each other. We would sometimes go to the pub straight after work to have a catch-up with everyone. We also had various nights out around people’s flats or in town. It was really nice living with other undergrads as it was similar to the university social life I was used to.

Compared to Guildford/Surrey (where I go to university), it was certainly a lot cheaper in terms of a night out. However I’m sure it was more expensive than a lot of places up north still. I paid £430/month for a really nice new-build flat which was very good value for money. There are plenty of things that you could do in Milton Keynes for free; however it is a place where you ideally need a car if you want to get anywhere. Luckily, working for VWFS, I was able to drive two brand new cars over the course of the year (as part of the employee car scheme) so this wasn’t a problem for me.

If you’re coming from university, you probably won’t be too impressed with the nightlife on offer in terms of clubs. And because Milton Keynes is so big, you need to get taxis everywhere you go unless you have a designated driver with you. However, I still enjoyed going out into town for drinks or having friends over at our flat, so you can definitely still have a good time even if the nightlife isn’t the best in the world.

I was part of the football team at VWFS where we trained together and played other local teams. In the first week of work, people from international VW offices flew over to take part in a big football tournament. This was a great way to meet other people in the office and build my professional network. The company also promoted various charity days/events. I ran a fantasy football league for people at work to participate in and there was also a work lottery which was fun. There is so much to do in Milton Keynes, from water sports on the lake to skiing in the snow centre. I took advantage of the golf courses near me as well as the gigantic shopping centre.