Information Technology Placement Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement as I learnt a lot, was exposed to different opportunities, given responsibilities to manage and be apart many different IT projects.

I worked in the IT department with five other colleagues, we worked closely together and felt that my my opinion in department contributions were valued regardless of being a placement student; which I never felt I was.

I felt I had many senior people I could go to if I had any problems or wanted to talk. It was made very clearly at the start of my placement who people were and how they were there to help me.

I could say I was never bored whilst on placement, there was always something I had to do and even if I had finished my assigned work there was always something to keep me occupied.

I felt was given a lot of responsibility as I worked in the IT department as an IT Technician my role was to support individuals with their IT issues and ensure that all PCs and laptops were up-to-date with the latest software and hardware. The project that I enjoyed the most and felt surprised for a placement student to be given was the recruiting the next IT placement student. Myself and another IT placement student based at the Maidenhead GSK site, worked together to recruit our next replacements. Responsibilities included: targeting the university, sending out advertisement,shortlisting candidates, preparing the interview day and interview the candidates and selecting 'the one'. It was a very interesting, enjoyable project where I learnt so much in particular about time-management, professionalism and great organisation skills.

The skills that I have learnt from soft skills to hard skills has definitely helped me during the my final year. My expose to time-management and organisation skills in a professional environment has helped me to transfer these skills whilst doing my final year. I feel I can manage my time more effectively and set myself targets to achieve to understand if I am on track.

It was a lively office which was made by the different characteristics of individuals. There was a balance to know when to have a laugh and joke and when to work.

It was organised, however as a person with a disability I felt that they could of prepared or gained more knowledge on how a disabled employee may require certain requirements in the workplace.

I did attend variety course on resilience course to interpersonal skills, to food hygiene course and many others.

Due to the site I worked for my placement in Coleford (where they made Lucozade and Ribena), it is now been sold of to another company, therefore I am applying via the central headquarter process.

Due to the location of my placement, there were only 3 placement student (including myself) at the Coleford site, therefore the social aspect was limited, but I still don't regret this.

There was limited social life.

No nightlife.

There were so opportunities to get involved in but was not many people 'my age' to join in the fun with.