Product Development Undergaduate Review

Great experience,being surrounded by some of the world's finest cars all summer was a thrill. Plus I got great exposure to, not only my department (Engineering Technical Services), but to the automotive industry as a whole.

Included in several "Need to Know" projects and given a lot of responsibilities. Frequent supportive comments acknowledging the work that I have been doing.

Really nice and friendly manager, very approachable and we have one to one meetings almost every week to discuss how I'm getting on, if I need any help etc.

Of course there were some quiet days, but for the most part my calender was pretty full with meetings, projects, tests etc. Always had something to work on, people I needed to talk to, or things to plan

Was given a project manager role and was quickly thrown in the deep end, conducting tours of the facility concerning my project, attending meeting in which I had to answer strings of questions on it, and was trusted to work on my own on this project. At the same time I was responsible for upholding promises my department had made to the company, and was constantly in contact with some very senior members.

At the moment I am studying Mechanical Engineering at University, however the department I was put in was perhaps not as technical as I would have liked. I am developing great business skills, such as team management, project planning, pricing etc, but these are not too related to my course. This isn't a company wide problem though, depending on the department you have chosen it could be very relevant, judging from some other undergrads who have actually been using lecture notes on projects (vehicle engineering, body engineering).

Everyone in the office is up for the craic with a very relaxed atmosphere and a welcoming open plan style existing throughout. Work of course did get done but it really felt like you were working with your friends from the start.

The guys I was working for clearly had specific projects that they wanted me to work on and they had these ready for me to start as soon as I started. The projects were all very different too meaning that I had to deal with many different departments within JLR, giving me a great insight into what life is like throughout JLR.

The company has funding that you are free to use for any training couses (not work related) you wish to do. If there was something that you are particularly interested in within JLR, all you have to do is say and your manager will do his best to get you involved. The company has online courses on there products/industry that you are encouraged to take which really help you dive in to the JLR world.

Jaguar Land Rover are flourishing at the moment with the current Range Rover Evoque they're fastest selling car of all time, and the brand being almost an in trend fashion item at the moment. As such, JLR are constantly hiring right now, taking on over 2000 people at my site alone this year. You can really feel the encouragement to return to full time employment with the company, with constant references to "when" you come back next year.

Because our site is Gaydon, which i quite out of the way, we lived in Coventry in Liberty Park student accommodation. There was about 50 of us from JLR living there and it is some of the best fun you'll ever have. Car share to and from work, the local pub is literally right across the road (does good meals too!) and everyone is always up for going clubbing on Friday. A good few undergrads who we've gotten to know through the JLR facebook group have houses in Leamington and often have bbq's or house parties. We plan trips and activities all the time, sometimes we travel to peoples homes around the country and go out there, we've played golf, go to the cinema, gone ice-skating...there' loads to do!

Coventry is crazy cheap (compared to Ireland). Rent where we are is £170/fortnight and its a pretty good place very safe and clean. Clubs are dangerously cheap, there are supermarkets (Tesco, Iceland, Sainsburys and Morrisons) all within walking distance.

Every weekend people are going out and everyone's invited! Predrinks happen usually in one apartment (organised in the facebook group) then we head to any one of a number of pretty good clubs, again within walking distance.

Most people joined the local gym, there's a tennis club nearby, a huge park for any sports really, there's a local GAA club that you can join.