Product Manager Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cummins, there wasn't a day I didn't dread work

From day one my department made me feel part of the group, not just a temporary placement student. Even when my Product Management team was re-structured reporting to a different director, we were still included in team lunches and meetings

My personal manager was fantastic if I ever needed guidance, taking time to teach and explain things - especially as I hadn't come from an engineering background. The same goes to other colleagues I worked with, nothing was too much trouble

As a placement student I always had something to be working towards, obviously some days are slower than others but that's just the nature of the business

As a placement student you are given real tasks to perform, with as much responsibility as you ask for. I was never made to get coffee or photocopy which I know tends to happen with students in other companies. I was asked to lead a community project which was fantastic!

Honestly I have learnt more at Cummins in a year than my two previous years at university. I have been able to adopt skills learnt in my degree and use them every day at work, and no doubt I will be taking a few transferable skills back for final year. The training you are given at Cummins is great - ranging from Presentation Skills to Customer Service, and there are always opportunities to work in other lines of business for a week or so. A placement is an invaluable experience that really will set you up for the world of work as the graduate field is extremely competitive

Obviously there are serious times, but being in an open and light office, there was a very friendly atmosphere. On birthdays and special occasions everyone brought cakes and food in which was nice

Being a corporate organisation my placement year ran very smoothly, with the number of students recruited for roles increasing each year

Along with the compulsory placement training of 6 individual group sessions, I had the freedom to arrange other class led modules such as Project Management and Sales Training. You get out of the company what you put in - they want you to develop so they also benefit from it

I would absolutely love to return as a graduate and then achieve a permanent role with Cummins. There isn't yet a graduate position for my role but I know around 50% of the graduates here are returned placements.

We created a Facebook group where gatherings were regularly organised - birthdays especially. As there were 21 of us there was always something to do

Having lived in Oxford for university, this area really is affordable and cheap! However, compared to the North I have heard it is apparently more expensive. I lived at home but I know other students paid roughly £300 a month for rent

Being from Ramsgate I know the area isn't fantasitic for a student club scene - however Canterbury and London aren't far away at all for nights out! In this area there are a couple of nice bars along the harbour which suits most students.

Sports and Social Club always had events arranged that you can go to at a discounted price. Things like visits to Brighton, the zoo, hand gliding, pub quizzes etc...