Finance placement Review

by Caterpillar

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.6/5
  • The Role
    4.1
  • The Company
    3.5
  • The Culture
    3.0

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • My placement within Caterpillar was very enjoyable as it gave me a chance to gain an awful lot of real world experience and meet some great people.

    4/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • As my placement year was slightly disrupted by changes within the company, it was difficult for me to settle within any one area of the finance department. Despite this I was made to feel very comfortable by those around me and my work appeared to be very appreciated.

    4/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • Management figures were very open to giving feedback and helping me to improve. I was able to ask any questions that came to mind and always appeared to receive open and honest answers.

    5/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • Initially I started off without a huge workload and then was moved to a team where the workload seemed extremely large. Despite this it was apparent this was not unique to me and the whole finance department was under strain, so it helped me to feel further valued and that I could make a difference within the company.

    4/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • I was given a large amount of responsibility within my various roles. Firstly I was given responsibility for submitting legal VAT requirements directly to HMRC and further to this I was then given a large amount of responsibility for work around improving aspects of the company's management reporting.

    5/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • After working for one year within Caterpillar, most of the theory I learnt within my degree has now began to make real sense. After you see the theory applied to a real life business and real situations, I've found that its value has now become very clear and I feel this will aid me a lot within finishing my degree and beyond.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • The atmosphere within Caterpillar was very fun and friendly. Although there was a strong work ethic present, people were still able to relax and make the experience enjoyable.

    4/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • Initially it was poorly organised as I was brought in as a late placement and not, at first, given a proper role. I was also moved around between a couple of teams during my placement which made it hard to settle. Despite this, I found that people were very willing to help me adjust within my placement and that these changes were partly due to the company as a whole undergoing some changes.

    4/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • The company gave me a few different training options and seemed willing to place time and resources into my development so I could produce a higher standard within my work.

    4/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • 3/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • If an opportunity became a available in the future that I felt was suited to me, I would be tempted to return to work with Caterpillar. There are opportunities for development and advancing within the organisation as well as substantial perks for full time employees.

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • I chose to participate in social scenes away from work and other placements so do not feel adequately experienced to comment.

    3/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • Peterborough generally proved a fairly nice place to live with general cost of living seeming to be at a fairly normal standard.

    4/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • The main issue with Peterborough and its social side is that its not a town that contains a university. This meant a distinct lack of students and student accommodation/social options. Despite this there was still a fairly vibrant nightlife if you knew the areas to go to.

    3/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • There were some opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work but only if you knew where to look.

    3/5
    Report this review

Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Accounting, Financial Management

South East

June 2013

View More Reviews