Gap Year Student: Software Developer Review
by Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
4.6
-
The Company
4.0
-
The Culture
3.5
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I thoroughly enjoyed my placement. The work was interesting as well as a challenge. The people working at ISIS are very friendly and helpful.
I was made to feel like a valued member of the team, and that my contributions actually mattered. The "end-product" of my work is now being used by the scientists at ISIS every day.
My supervisors were very supportive where necessary, but did not try to micro-manage everything I did. I'd say they struck the perfect balance here.
There was always work to be getting on with, and it was always work of real consequence. There was slight pressure around releases, but my manager was always able to redistribute work around the team if things got too busy.
I was given a lot of responsibility to organise my own work and manage priorities.
This was the main selling point of the placement as far as I was concerned. Learning to code at University or at home is one thing, but doing it in a setting as part of a team of dedicated and professional developers is something completely different. In this respect I'd rate my placement as probably more important than my degree.
The Company
The office is quiet, but the real strength of the placement in this regard is the fact that there will be a dozen or more other placement students on campus. They will be working in various other fields (scientific and otherwise) and be from all over the country.
I was off and running from day one.
There was little in the way of formal, "classroom" training, but the framework is there within the team to give all the "on-the-job" training you need.
Flexi Time
Sports and Social Club
Staff Sales/Staff Shop
Above 25 days holiday
They rehired me on a permanent basis after I graduated! Employers struggle to find out much about people in Assessment Centres and the like, and often times have to take a gamble on people. So they treat placements like a year-long interview which they can be sure about. If you get a placement here and you make a good impression, there is a STRONG chance you're going to be asked to come back.
The Culture
There will be a dozen or more other placements of a similar age working on campus. I hope you enjoy nights out in Oxford.
OK I guess, for down south!
Oxford and Abingdon are the main places for nights out.
There were plenty of opportunities to get involved in non-work activities.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Computer Science
South East
November 2013
