HR Placement Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement as I was given a wide variety of projects and tasks.

My colleagues within my deaprtment made me feel like a valued member of the team from the word go. In additon, colleagues outside of my department made me feel like a valued memeber of the company as they were always willing to share information with me. Towards the middle of my placement I felt like that I was seen as being more than just a placement student.

My supervisor gave me excellent support during the entire year where we would have weekly meetings to gain feedback as to how I was getting on within my role. My supervisor did not 'mummy' manage me but would let me use my own inititive to compelte tasks and to over come problems. This was a preferred management style as I felt that this was the main contributing factor to how much I have developed throughout my year at Cummins.

The work load came in swings and round abouts. During the first six months of my placement I felt like I had the perfect balance as I was still learning the Cummins way. However due to unforeseeen circumstances within the department my work load increased dramatically where I was doing the work of a HR Advisor and felt like it was a bit too much at times. However looking back now, I feel that this experience has helped to develop me as it gained my confidence in my HR knowledge and it also made me become a lot more organised.

As the department I work in is very much under resourced, I gained a lot of responsibility during my placement year, where I was responsible and ran a number of HR items such as Absent Management for Operations, Long Service Award for the whole of site, MSP, Office and Shop recruitment and Employee recognition scheme. I was also asked to complete a Six Sigma project where I was design and implement a Buddy Program for all new starters for Cummins Power Generation at Kent.

My placement year will definately assist me in not only my degree but also in my career as I have been exposed to a large number of skills and opportunities that will increase my level of experience and therefore my employability. My year here has also enabled me to become more organised and am able to manage my time far more effectively which will set me up nicely for my final year at university.

In general the atmosphere in the office was good as we all get on well. However there was a period of about 2 months where the atmosphere felt a bit uncomfortable due to new management and a memeber of the department who was not carrying out the work that was asked of them. Having said this, this was noted and immediately rectified.

My placement was very well organised as I was given a detailed work plan at the very beginning of my year and was given specific objectives that I had to meet.

My supervisor was ademant from the start that my placement year was about me gaining as much experience as possible so he would alway push me into putting myself forward to attend additional training such as Project Management and to attend a Tribunal.

I would absolutely love to come back to work within the HR department for Cummin at Kent and I have been told that they would like me back as well but it just depends on whether they are able to get head count for me.

Cummins has a very friendly atmosphere where it was easy to talk to most people within the business. There was a good social scene with the colleagues and fellow placement students and I feel I have met some friends for life.

I grow up in the area where my placement year was so I was able to live at home and save a bit of money.

With all locations I think it could be improved a little bit however I really enjoy the nighlife in this area as Canterbury is only 15 minutes away from me which has a very good nightlife.

Cummins do have a few sports teams, but they were sports that I do not tend to have much involvement in. As I grow up from this area I had my own activites that I am involved in outside of work.