Intern Technical Engineer Review

The projects I were assigned were varied and used different skillsets. In addition, I often had less stressful smaller term tasks, such as complaint investigation. This provided a nice variety oof things to be getting on with at work, without becoming too stressed and allowed me to feel that I was making progress. However, I also felt that the paperwork, due to working in healthcare, was very extensive and often slowed my projects. I was often waiting on approvals that were out of my hands and thus slowed progressed and lessened enthusiasm and engagement.

I was trusted with tasks that other, full time engineers, had failed to do beforehand. I felt valued when my supervisor asked me to take on new projects due to my experience with similar items earleir in the year.

I had weekly meetings with my team, where we all reported on our progress for the week, and could provide advice, comments or guidance where appropriate. In addition, I had a 1:1 with my supervisor on a monthly basis where we could discuss aspects not realting to my projects, such as long term development advice.

The work load varied a lot - some weeks I was extremely busy with high priority deadlines, and in other weeks I was mostly bored while waiting for paperwork approvals. Some approvals have taken months. On the other hand, my supervisor was happy to give me more work when I mentioned that I had a quiet week ahead. Overall, I was busier more than bored.

I was given the responsibility of several high value projects that had been attempted before but had not found a satisfactory conclusion. I was treated as a professional engineer despite my inexperience. I did not lead a team, but I was often collaberting with other employees was the driver behind many of my projects.

I have gained many useful 'soft skills', such as improve time management and technical communication. 3M provided many useful development courses to all IP and graduate emplyees, focusing on long term development and other important areas such as how to sell an idea to collegues.

Everyone in the office was nice and supported each other. We had no partitions serperating the desks so there was a nice, relaxed atmosphere as it felt much more open than other offices. We often had some form of snacks provided by team members throughout the day, and failnig that there was a reasonably-priced tuck shop on the same floor.

There was no overall plan for the year - I was introduced to an array of projects over several weeks at the start of my placement, and completed them at my own pace, with support and guidance avaliable. However, the first week of my placement was well orgnasied with approporiate training set up and 30 minuite mettings with the other people of the team.

3M provided some day long training sessions, and hour long webinars for all IP and graduate students throughout the year. These focused on long term development and career planning.

3M has an O2 scheme for graduate engineers, and I have a stronger chance of beign accepted for this programme due to my experience with 3M over my placement.

Other graduate and placements students were on site, btu due to my position where I was based in offices and they were based in the factory on site, we had little face-to-face communication. On the other hand, the day long training schemes were a good chacne for everyone to catch up, regardless of what site they were at in the UK.

My placement was in Loughborough, which has good student housing due to the local university.

No opinion - I have little interest in the nightlife scene (I drink little alchohol), and thus did not go out over my placement. Loughborough is a university town so nightlife is as appropriate.

I am a student of Loughborough university so I had socials from my usual university clubs. 3M also hosted several events for thier employees, notably the Christmas party and the 3M for good scheme, which allowed employees to do chiarty work for a day or so, and receive normal pay.