Manufacturing and Operations Undergraduate Review

The main reason I enjoyed this placement was the people and the culture. Everyone was welcoming from the start and were always willing to help. I felt like I fitted in from Day one. Working at Jaguar Land Rover allowed me to work in a wide range of areas of the business. I was able to work with many different people in many different teams. I enjoyed this variety as no two weeks were the same. The work was also varied keeping me captivated at all times.

I felt valued by the vast majority of people I came into contact with. I was given real responsibility from the very start which showed my manager thought I could be relied upon. As part of a team I was often brought in to help with different projects through my different areas of knowledge. I often received good feedback through JLR's feedback system, making me feel wanted in the workplace. However I did come into contact with a few people over my time that viewed me as "just an undergrad" but this was rare.

I had regular feedback sessions with my manager and sometimes her superiors too. Each session allowed me to set targets for personal development and also kept my work on track. Everyone at the company was approachable and offered support when I asked for it. My manager had lots of input on my project guiding me with suggestions and internal contacts to help me along the way. Feedback wasn't limited to my 1:1 sessions either, I could send work or questions to any of the team for review and would always get feedback and support.

Each week was different based on the projects I was working on. At the start of the placement when I was till learning the ropes the days were long as I didn't have the workload. However when the workload picked up there wasn't another day like it. There were some days where I felt swamped and lost track of tasks but I resolved this with a planner. There were some weeks were I choose to put more hours in than my contact but this was balanced out my other weeks where I could relax a bit more.

I was given lots of responsibility from the start. During my first week I was made responsible for resolving errors in a system that was integral to the operation at one of the parts. If it had gone wrong, excess parts could have been ordered to the wrong place costing the business money. Even though there were regular 1:1 sessions I was responsible for keeping myself on track and that the work I was producing was of a high standard. For one project I was responsible for linking the work of multiple teams making sure they worked together harmoniously and maintained communication. Without me keeping the project moving and driving change this project would have failed.

The workplace experience will help me a huge amount in later life. I already know how businesses work, especially the teams within them. This knowledge you can only gain through experience and not out of a book! Being in the workplace has also winded my outlook on many things. I now take a more practical view on things and not the perfect case that uni teaches us. The main skills I have improved are both communication and teamwork. These skills were already strong through playing sport but now I can tailor them to the workplace and the different challenges that brings.

The atmosphere was always different. At the beginning of my placement the office was very quiet due to Covid restrictions, however on teams meetings there was always a positive atmosphere. The whole team was very friendly and there was a nice mix between mixing around and working hard. This balance definitely improved productivity as it was fun to work. There were times near project deadlines where the stress caused the atmosphere to deteriorate but it remained fairly positive.

The beginning of the placement was disrupted by the pandemic. However JLR still managed to facilitate a welcome week and introduction to the business. There was regular communication before the start, detailing lots of important information and there was a very helpful and responsive team to answer any questions you may have. My project was given to me when I met my manger on the first day. giving me some guidance on what was ahead. However, I think it would be good for managers to reach out before this session so there is already a friendly face in the office.

The company provided lots of online training material for both personal and business development. Lots of courses were tailored to Jaguar Land Rover Specifically but a lot were more generalized too. To keep track of development the company asks you to set a few targets for the year, aligned with their 5 principles. I liked this as it gave me something to aim for throughout the year. These were created with my manger who also helped me keep track.

Good. There are quite a few grad scheme places available which are often given to undergrad placements students. I am hopeful!

I can't accurately say as the year was a year of social distancing and online events. A team within JLR facilitated a few early careers and other virtual events such as quizzes and games nights to try and keep us connected. There are a few sports teams and other social clubs based near Coventry but as I was based in Solihull it wasn't the easiest for me to travel there. I'd imagine a normal year would have been better.

Where I lived wasn't the nicest but it did the job. I lived with other JLR placement students from my university in a rented house. This was actually cheaper than my student rent at around £350 per month. The local nightlife was typical prices for a city but wasn't bad with the salary for the role. Working for the company grants you discount in lots of places such as snooker clubs which was very handy.

Covid destroyed it all. The pubs were still open partly but weren't the nicest of venues.

JLR offers lots of clubs and groups depending on your interests. There are many employee sports teams in the area that anyone can join.