Undergraduate placement student Review

Work has been varied and challenging. I have been placed in situations and enormous pressure and stress in which I have thrived on learning opportunities. Work has always been interesting, even if a hard-slog and times. Truely a fantastic company to be involved in. Also, there cannnot be a more rewarding way to finish a job than watching it take-off.

Placement system means that the people you work directly for are not paying for you. This gives an aspect of disengagement from the team as a "free resource". However, as a graduate entering jobs that might not normally employ from the fresher employment market, it is possible to bring skills to the workplace that are hugely valued by employers and place a high demand on your abilities. At times I have been pulled in numerous ways by demands from managers to be utilised on a range of tasks.

Similar comments to above on local, team-level, guidance. HR system of employment means that there is always a central control point for undergraduates to report to or ask questions. Support is readily available and easily approachable.

Apart from the odd-occasion where I have been "seperated" from the team, arising from being en employee of a seperate department, I have been under high levels of workload at all times. My centre line rating applies here as the swings in the workload have been quite dynamic, however this is not a a big issue, as the periods of over-working have been thoroughly enjoyable and a tremendous challenge.

At times I have been guided quite closely and allowed to develop with assistance and low-risk of causing problems in my work. At others though I have been tasked with acting very autonomously. Roles I have been involved in have been to comission a test-rig by myself, initiate testing and bring suppliers and contractors on the matter to the same table to discuss results and methods. I have been responsible for devloping methods of flight-data analysis that will form a fundemental part in assessing system quality and verifying design performance.

The work I have been involved in at BAE Systems places my degree in a wholly different context. I am more confident that I understand the application of the many areas of theory that form my degree programme and sure of my capabilities to operate in a team or run such a team.

Having worked in four different locales as part of the placement scheme I have worked in a range of office scenarios. It has typically been enjoyable, with work on a test-rig being a very team-based effort, having to work alongside others to ensure test facilities were constanly manned. I was involved in working on a shift rota at this time. Office work has always a relaxed feel to it, regardless of the pressure everyone can be under at times. Being on a large, high security base can be strange, nto having contact with people from "outsie", but provides a good range of facilities to accomodate for various interests.

Everything ran well. Finding placements internally proves quite easy as you are a "free resource" to each department.

99% certain to be on the graduate scheme following graduation

Small undergraduate intake this year meant that keeping contact was difficult.

Cost of living good (compared to Manchester). Not particularly much to do in the area however. Living in the Preston area will be a big down-side to a graduate job here.

Preston...