Placement Student Review

Over the course of the year I found the guidance provided by my management and supervisors to be invaluable, I am in no doubt that if these people gave any less guidance I would have found the experience much more difficult.

Day to day the work load varied quite a lot depending on which systems broke. There were some instances where very little was happening, and some instances where it was non stop all day. Overall though it balanced out very nicely, and on the quiet days I was able to complete reflective reports for University, and do additional training.

Whilst on my placement year I wasn't directly responsible for any critical systems, however I was given projects to work on and manage. This includes the capital budgets associated with the project and managing the contractors involved in any work.

I found over the year that I developed skills that were completely different to the area in which I am studying, however they are skills that are required for work in the field I intend to work in. By developing these additional skills I believe I will be much more capable in future employment.

The office very rarely had a serious atmosphere, everyone was typically quite jovial. The fun only stopped when something important broke.

The beginning of the placement was very well organised. I had frequent contact with both the placement office and with the employer. Once the placement had begun the initial training was well organised and subsequent training for accessing systems was organised well.

The company trained me to do the job I had, and offered internal training on certain things. However there was no offer of externally accredited training.

Unfortunately because of the size of the department in which I was working and the current economic climate I believe that prospects of employment within my area of expertise with this employer are very slim.

I generally had little contact with the majority of the other placement students working on the site, I believe this is due to the size of the site though. I was often out socialising with colleagues.

I lived outside the city centre with my parents, so it cost next to nothing really!

Newcastle was a 15 minute but ride away! Party capital of the UK!!

There were occasionally opportunities to partake in activities outside of work, however there wasn't much variation in those activities.