Summer Placement Student HIghways and Transport Review

I have really enjoyed working as Atkins as it feels the work I have done is important and the atmosphere in the office is the right balance of relaxed and professional.

Everyone has said that they will miss me when I'm gone, so very valued!

I have been given the opportunity to ask for tasks that I feel would benefit my career progression more, and given advice about reaching chartership and getting jobs. Everyone is really helpful with the work too, and I'm never left to struggle with a problem alone.

Very busy! Its a real 40 hour a week job, with real work that goes into project folders and is sent to clients, so there was no room for slacking.

I was given the right level of responsibility I think, and it increased throughout the placement. When I showed confidence in my work and abilities I was rewarded with more responsibility.

Everything I have learnt at Atkins is relevant to the career I want to pursue, from engineering specific things to general things you need to know when working in an office.

Since I came along the mood has been lifted, so I am told, but the office is quite relaxed anyway so while its not quite a-laugh-a-minute, its easy to enjoy working here.

Atkins are clearly used to employing summer interns, and have the process organised very well. The only minor downside was that the interview wasn't until mid June, and so I didn't know I had a job for the summer until quite late, which meant I had to sort everything out very quickly for starting work at the beginning of July, and I couldn't make any summer plans.

I have had some basic health and safety training and have been bought up to standard on using most computer programs. A site visit would require more training but as yet I haven't had one.

I think I have made quite a good overall impression, so fingers crossed they will be inviting me back next summer.

While I have been here there have been quite a few social events organised and paid for by the company, and there are always things going on outside of work with individual groups.

Swansea is very cheap to live in. Being a student here I have gotten used to the lifestyle and the area so its easy to find cheap places to eat etc.

Swansea has a pretty good nightlife considering its a small city. Wind Street is busy most nights and theres plenty of variation in places to go.

With colleagues there were mostly opportunities surrounding sports teams, but if I had wanted to start some sort of activity I think that I'd have gathered a decent following and support from colleagues. In Swansea in general there are loads of opportunities to do anything that you're interested in.