RDD intern Review

Very much so - it was a hands on, practical placement that allowed me to get very involved with my work. As well as this, there were opportunities to learn new skills and develop myself as a person, which is especially important in a placement year.

Dyson were very keen to get me involved from the start, working both individually and with others. This meant I was working on important things for the company fairly shortly after starting, resulting in many people requiring my own knowledge / results to further their projects. This, coupled with giving group presentations, made me feel very much part of the team, and therefore I definitely felt valued by my colleagues.

As a physics student embarking on a mainly engineering-type placement, I needed a lot of help and guidance in order to complete daily tasks, especially at the start. My line manager was extremely patient and helpful, never ignoring any requests for help and support. This was important as it helped to build my confidence.

Most days very busy, as there was always lots of work to do. My projects were mainly quite open, allowing me to define a lot of my own work in order to deliver a complete, accurate answer to the business. On top of this there were deadlines to keep to, meaning that there was little 'free time' during the working day. I felt this was good however, as it meant the days passed fairly quickly and I was rarely left without something to do.

To start with, my manager and I worked closely as I was unsure on a lot of things and was still learning the ropes. However, as I developed my skills I was given more responsibility, being given the lead on a project after working for 4 months. This was good as it demonstrated the team's belief in me, and allowed me to really become involved with the placement and the work I was doing.

Because of the engineering nature of the placement, a lot of the technical skills are not easily transferable (for example, I was trained to use CAD during my placement and I will not be required to use it on my degree), However, many of the transferable skills (for example presentation skills, work ethic, writing skills etc.) will be very important when studying for my degree. Also, Dyson provided the interns with personal development sessions, focused on developing our skills so that we can grow as individuals.

The office is entirely open plan, leading to a very fluid, flexible work place. This means you must be able to react well/adapt to change. Most people who work there are very interested in their work and are willing to help with any questions etc., leading to a relaxed, friendly office.

This is the area I feel Dyson could improve on - this was their first year running the internship and at times things seemed a little unorganised / not thought through. However I do feel this will improve over time, as Dyson gains more experience of employing interns.

Dyson held development sessions, had our managers meet 1:1 with us on a frequent basis and provided us with an end of year view. Coupled with Dyson's willingness to enrol me on training programs throughout the year (CAD training, risk assessment training, workshop training etc.), I feel that Dyson invested a lot in my personal development.

Dyson are rapidly expanding, therefore they are hiring many graduates. This makes the possibility of future employment higher than other companies, therefore makes Dyson very appealing. Also, there is room to grow in the business (whether as a manager or becoming a more capable engineer).

There was a good social scene between fellow interns, with us eating lunch together most days. This extended outside of work, meeting up to do other activities (going to the pub, go karting etc.)

Cost of living was fairly reasonable, along with cost of socialising.

There were a few pubs around, but no decent clubs. However, Bath and Bristol are close by with a much better social scene, making nights out still enjoyable.

Dyson organises many social events outside of work, many of which sport bases, I was involved in badminton, football and squash. There was also a largely popular cycling scene, with a weekly ride that was well attended most weeks.