Process Engineer IP Review

I have been given a project which I plan and work on with my own schedule. Day to day varies a lot, sometimes I will spend days in a lab area creating powder blends and/or testing them using different equipment and other days I will be analysing data I have created and doing experimental write-ups. I also assist on larger trials going on when needed which could have a variety of tasks such as sample or data collection.

My understanding and knowledge of OSD manufacture has increased so much. I now have a very competent understanding of the processes in both large and small scale in which I had very little knowledge of at the beginning. I have also been able to learn to do matlab coding from reaching out to other teams to get the most out of my placement. I also learnt a lot about the working environment and team dynamics which has helped with my confidence and communication skills.

The amount of responsibility and tasks for the first 4 to 5 months of my placement was very minimal and I had a very low workload. After a lot of pushing from my side, I was given more work and responsibility and I now have my own project which I manage with the support of my line manager as and when needed. I am now satisfied with the level of responsibility I have been given.

During the start of my placement, with smaller tasks, I wasn't given much support and was left to get as far as I could with tasks and hand them back when I could do no more. Since then, I have changed managers and I have a lot more support which is guided by myself and when I need it. I find this very useful as I feel independent and trusted yet have the support when I want.

Generally speaking, the company culture and atmosphere is great. The environment is very relaxed and calm and everyone is very friendly. There are lots of opportunities within the company to socialise if wanted but nothing is mandatory. Team atmosphere varies a lot however, some teams are all friends and socialise a lot and have a very chatty and lighthearted atmosphere but others are strictly professional and more serious and unfortunately my team is one of those teams which has also affected the team working within the team.

I did not enjoy my placement at all for the first 4 to 5 months. I was very bored with little work to do and my efforts to get more work and more useful work had little success. After this period, I started enjoying my placement much more and feel I have a sense of purpose here and responsibility. I do not think the job role itself is suited to me but i now much more enjoy the work I have and the people I'm around

Yes

One of the main pieces of advice would be to make sure you know what the job role is, what it means and what you will be doing. I, unfortunately did not and now I am doing a placement which is not what I thought I would be doing. Also, make sure to make the most of any opportunities and if there is something missing from you're job role which you think you might be able to do then be proactive to make sure it happens.