IT Services Student Placement Review

During my time on placement at Newcastle Building society I have had a range of responsibilities. Originally I spent time with multiple teams including the Service Desk and Colleague Device team where I learnt a lot about the organizational structure and the range of roles within the company. I have since settled within the DevOps team where I work using Azure DevOps innovating and improving our pipeline deployment processes.

I have learnt a large range of valuable skills and am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to spend the last year at Newcastle Building Society. I have particularly enjoyed being able to improve my skills in scripting languages such as PowerShell to automate processes. Beyond this, I have been able to learn what the world of work is like and have gained valuable knowledge that university simply cannot provide. This has left me feeling equipped for my career in the future.

As my placement progressed my responsibilities grew. I worked on many important tasks and genuinely feel that the outcome of these will largely benefit the organization and improve the efficiency and safety of tasks carried out by colleagues. Although it took some time to learn and develop the skills needed before I could be given more responsibility, I feel I have taken on this challenge and have grown as an individual because of this.

During my placement I was consistently surrounded by people who helped and supported me with my development. Each member joining the organization through the Early Talent Cohort is assigned a mentor to begin with which helps you with your personal growth within the company. Beyond my mentor, I have been consistently cared for by my teammates and line managers. The support given to me here at NBS has been nothing short of phenomenal.

I have always felt that the atmosphere at Newcastle Building Society has been friendly and supportive. Every decision made by my line managers has been made with the best intent for me and my development. Although being a little shy at first, I feel I have gained a lot of confidence and I know that I can ask anybody for help when I need it. The focus on culture within the organization stems from the top with massive projects in place with a focus on fostering a positive environment for everyone.

I have loved my placement at NBS. I can't believe how much I have learnt over such a short space of time and I genuinely feel proud of myself for everything I have achieved over the year. I look forward to taking my newly gained skills with me in the future as I finish my degree and continue my career within the field of Computer Science.

Yes

Be yourself. Starting off in the world of work can seem scary at first and some can be inclined to put on a persona of sorts. Newcastle Building Society is not the place to do this, you are employed for who you are and should be proud of this. Believe in yourself and don't be afraid to speak up about your opinions, your colleagues will value this and listen to what you have to bring to the table.