Design and Analysis Placement Student Review

Great company to work for, provide all the training and guidance I could have wanted and Im going to return to uni and my 3rd a much stronger and knowledgeable undergraduate.

We're all engineers obviously and thus share some common hobbies, theres the usual gaming, sport etc. But I ended up going out on the weekend with some of the full time engineers mountain biking, and for department meals/socials.

Given a review every month to tell me my strong areas and areas for improvement. Particularly good to find out the areas for improvement so you know where to pay more attention to in the future.

I was given "real" work to, not just practice material. What I was working on was going to help the company alot. And being in the design department I designed several components that are now in production and being fitted on engines on the production line.

At the beginning I was given smaller, less involved jobs to prove myself, and that I could be trusted with the responsibility of carrying out the work to a high enough standard. Now I am working on much bigger projects as I have shown I can deal with the engineering work.

I am now very competent at using a CAD package (Pro-E) and Ansys, I have also been given an engine appreciation course following an engine along the production line, aswell as presentation skills, project management (Six Sigma) and various other courses.

Very friendly bunch of guys, they have no qualms about helping you out with any questions or issues, I think they can all remember what its like being a placement student so understand that its easier to have someone to ask rather than struggle through on your own.

I turned up for interview, got the job, had a medical then turned up on the first day, had a few days of introductory training, I was registered on the iMechE's MPDS scheme so this placement year counts towards my becoming chartered.

With the current economic situation I think they have cut back on the amount of training, but this has only been reduced to what you need to complete your job, whereas before I think you would get training even if you didnt need it for your job, so you get an idea of what other roles are open within engineering.

There are a number of engineers that all completed their placements with the company so usually the prospects are high, but because of the economic situation the company cannot guarantee jobs, but the option is still open, and even if you dont get a job straight after graduation the year will still look good if you apply later on in your career with the company.

There were 13 students in total, and many of the students lived with each other to make things cheaper, and the company help with this by giving out contact details of the other students. There were also a few nights out etc.

Being from, and going to uni in London, I found rent, and going out alot cheaper in the area, working in Daventry and living in Coventry.

Not alot going on in Daventry, but living in Coventry, its a good night out mainly because its the town that all the students from Coventry and Warwick uni's go to.

There is a plant sports and social club, so 5-a-side football league, cricket team, golf, usual stuff. I also went out with a few of the guys in my department mountain biking.