Undergraduate Trainee (Hybrids department) Review

I've really enjoyed my placement, the projects I worked on have been interesting and challenged my abilities without putting me out of my depth. The work and range of responsibilities was also varied allowing me to have quite a dynamic experience.

My work actively helped those around me and I was given real responsibility and treated like full member of the company. Good work was praised and valued, and when I need help or guidance everyone I spoke to was happy to lend assistance.

For core functional skills I was able to utilise extensive online training along with support from team members who were able to guide me through processes and lend advice. My manager welcomed me into the team and helped set me up with access to systems, software and sorting out security cards. Regular team meetings and one-top-ones with colleagues created a supportive forum for helping each other through problems.

I had an ongoing mix of individual projects and group responsibilities that kept me occupied for the majority of the placement. As expected things were slow at the start of the placement as I found my feat and gained skills and confidence but from then on I was kept comfortably busy with concurrent projects, deliverables and analysis. Times got busy but nothing that left me unduly stressed or overworked beyond my capabilities.

I was given key responsibilities that enabled me to take charge and manage several major deliverables for a project gateway. This was plenty of responsibility that was overlayed with many additional day to day tasks and smaller projects. My work also went directly to suppliers, and fed into project documentation.

Would call it a professional atmosphere, you can chat with your colleagues and all that but at the end of the day you are working for a major engineering firm. I did however socialise outside of work, regularly visiting a climbing wall.

Very well organised, intro day sets you up with your cards and how to go about your placement. Following this my manager then took me on board and made sure everything worked and I had access/ permission to what I needed. Beyond initial projects I actively sought out and volunteered for work and projects to keep me busy and took on as much as I felt comfortable doing.

I had access to a full suite of online training that I only scratched the surface of, additional day courses were available but were not required for the work I was doing. My team invested time in helping me where I had technical questions. I also chaired meetings and made presentations which helping me to gain confidence.

I believe this placement will greatly help if I want to get on the graduate scheme,

For travel convenience I was living away from the main group of interns, however I know there were regular bbq's, meals out, cinema trips and parties. With my work colleagues however I was able to go climbing, and go on lunch time walks etc.

Because I was based at the IDL research centre in Warwick uni, I was able to capitalise on a cheap summer let of a student property nearby. The cost of which was far lower than typical rent prices I am used to around Bristol where I study at.

Warwick campus has several pubs and bars, and further afield Coventry has many clubs and pubs. The only thing lacking near me were takeaways, necessitating ordering and delivery.

Went climbing, and other sports and hobby clubs were around if I wanted to get involved.