IT Trainee Review

I loved my placement year it was extremely rewarding, fun and I learnt so much...I didn't even want to come back to university!! The work was varied and challenging and I was always working on different projects. With such varied work it enabled me to learn and develop my knowledge and skills in multiple areas. The company is a fantastic firm to work for with amazing opportunities.

Everyone made me feel extremely welcomed and I was always made to feel part of the team, being included in everything from working to social events. I always felt as though the work I had completed was appreciated and always felt extremely valued by my colleagues.

I was assigned two mentors at the beginning of my placement and they were there for me no matter what I needed. Anything I had to ask or needed help with was never an issue. I was give on going support from both mentors as well as my managers. They guided me throughout the year by giving me regular appraisals and meetings to provide feedback. My managers provided support by pairing me up with more experienced team members to complete pair programming and allow me to learn from these colleagues. Management and supervisors were extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful throughout the whole year.

I was very busy on a daily basis and always carrying out different tasks, so no day was the same! I was made to feel part of the team immediately, working on the same projects and tasks as everyone else. Daily tasks included answering the phone and emails to other employees throughout the company to offer IT help and support. Project work lasted for about 3 weeks at a time, then new tasks would be introduced, but there was always a deadline for projects to be completed.

I was given as much responsibility as other colleagues with the opportunity and flexibility to get involved in other work that required more responsibility. When I joined Baker Tilly, they had just merged with RSM Tenon so I was involved with the creation of users. This was a lot of responsibility and there were tight deadlines, but my managers trusted me with this and I was able to complete the tasks required.

Everything I learnt from my placement year including the skills, knowledge and training I received from other colleagues as well as the experience of working in the company itself is invaluable. It will help and assist me greatly in my final year of studying, mostly because I now understand how everything I am studying fits in with a business and their daily tasks. I will take these skills with me throughout life. I would definitely recommend doing a placement.

The atmosphere was friendly and fun. Everyone was outgoing and always willing to help out.

The work placement was extremely well organised. My managers and supervisors had set out aims, objectives and goals for me to complete throughout the year as well as a plan of what projects I would complete, what teams I would experience and when my appraisals would be completed.

I completed multiple online tutorials for my personal training and development. I was also sent to a few conferences to learn about certain software that we were using. I also attended a week long training course to help learn and understand new software that was being implemented.

Future employment prospects are extremely appealing and I will be going back to work for the company once I have finished my final year of university and graduated.

The social scene was amazing! Everyone within the company, not only my department, was always up for going out for lunch especially in the summer! Everyone also used to go out on a Friday after work. There was also a social committee that arranged multiple work events which were always very enjoyable as well as the company events that included other offices.

Cost of living was reasonable and socialising was very good. The office I worked in (Gatwick office) was situated in the local town so everything you needed was there. This was perfect for socialising with restaurants, bars and clubs just a walk away from the office! As well as a train station very close by.

Very good plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs very close by.

Multiple opportunities were available for activities outside of work mainly arranged by the social committee.