Undergraduate Engineer Review

Had an amazing time! Given the option of gaining experience in up to 4 different departments (3 months each) ensuring I experienced a large part of the company. I was given real engineering tasks at just the right level for a undergraduate placement student which was also relevant to my degree. Tremendous support from experienced colleagues, engineering managers, undergraduate placement manager and mentor. Well worth the year out of Uni!

Each department was different and brought unique challenges. Nearly everyone I worked with appreciated my efforts/work I did. As long as you put in 100%, work as a team and show that you are competent completing the task you have been given you will be greatly valued and rewarded.

3 monthly reviews with my placement manager, induction meeting with engineering manager when starting a new placement where I had an opportunity to discuss placement aims and objectives. Managers would always make time to discuss problems with tasks. Mentor greatly assisted me with my professional development and first steps to getting on the ladder to gain chartership with the Royal Aeronautical Society in the future.

Really depends on what department you work in, some departments will be quieter than others just because of the nature of work. I had quiet times meaning that I had to ask for more work and and busy times where I was spending longer in the office (building up some flexi-time!). Don't be afraid to ask managers for more work.

In each placement, I was initially only given one job to complete, this was the time to get settled in and ask as many questions as possible, as time went on I was given multiple tasks to complete on my own for a certain deadline. Colleagues and managers were always available if I had any questions however and any reports you produce are always checked by supervisors and going into the signature loop.

Will take forward the 'soft skills' well into my future career, will use the year as evidence toward chartership and the technical knowledge I acquired will greatly help with my final year at University. The departments I chose to work in gave me a unique insight into the type and level of work I would complete as an engineer, made some really great friends and had a few 'once in a lifetime' experiences.

Each office was different, there is a really good work ethic and plenty of time to have a chat, as long as the work gets done!

On the first day after the induction presentations, our managers came to collect us and took us to the office we would be working in. I was given an introduction to the department, all the health and safety information, and introduced to the people I would be working with. I sorted my next two placements out myself by speaking to the head of the department on the telephone and face-to-face. Most departments are used to having Undergraduate/Post graduates they will know what to expect. Don't be afraid to ask around and try and gain experience in the areas that interest you, you get out what you put in!

I didn't go on any official training programs but given lots of assistance within departments for using computer software I had not used before. Assigned a mentor for the year which was invaluable.

Large organization so lots of opportunity to network and impress!

Met up with other placement students a few times, AWASA and AWADP committees run many events and outings in evenings and weekends so plenty to get up to.

Moving from London, I found the accommodation pretty good value for money, bills for my 1 bedroom flat were pretty average. A few bars and pubs in the city center as well as a massive Tesco supermarket. Good transport links into London (2 national rail train stations).

Was ok, didn't go out into town much - came back to London on most weekends.

Large social/sports club, played table tennis a couple of nights a week with colleagues, made use of the cricket nets at lunchtimes :) and invited to Christmas dinners etc.