Engineering Industrial Placement Review

My role is to assist the Radar Hardware Team in developing different components, such as the receiver, transmitter, or antenna counterweight balancing. This means it is varied from day-to-day and can involve working with others in the team, contacting external companies for information and quotes and arranging to buy, make, or fix certain parts.

I have developed a number of engineering skills, such as making technical drawings, modelling components in CAD, and even down to hands-on skills fixing or replacing parts of the radar. It has also developed my communication skills with the opportunity to present any information I have found, as well as talking to a wide range of people both internal and external to the Met Office.

I felt like I was given as much responsibility as I was willing to take on. While I was given my own tasks and left to work on them without constant supervision, my manager and other coworkers were available to contact at any time for assistance, advice, and help with any work I was responsible for.

I received a lot of support and guidance. Coworkers were very kind and happy to talk through anything I didn't understand, and there was always a contact available to help if I asked for support.

The company is very friendly, the office space is open to conversations and chats while everyone is working, and all the departments I have met were happy to talk with me about what they do and support my development in the company.

I enjoyed my placement far more than I expected. Compared to university, there was far less pressure to constantly be working, and I felt comfortable with leaving work in the office and not continuing into the evening.

Yes

I'd recommend researching the Met Office values and how you can follow or strive towards meeting them. While knowledge and achievements are necessary, they seem to care a lot about the character of potential employees as well.