Summer Placement Student Review

The work was interesting and challenging, we were given responsibility for out project from day one which was good! However; there was always support if you needed it and I got on well with everyone I met and worked with.

Because I was given my own project within, the results were of direct use to that area. I was taken seriously as a colleague and not treated as just a student. I was always able to ask questions to those I worked with and they came to me to ask questions too.

I had a direct line manager and was also under the overall manager for our section. I had weekly meetings with my manager who could see my progress and offered help and guidance for how to proceed. Outside of these meetings my manager was always accessible if I needed anything.

The majority of the time I was busy enough that I always had work to be getting on with. At some points near the start I didn't have quite enough to be getting on with, but this was quickly solved by speaking to my manager.

My project was my own, and I was responsible for the entirety of it. How much and in which direction I wanted to proceed were my own choices, but my manager was always there to help with ideas for direction if needed.

The whole interview process was good practice for any job application. My presentation and group talking skills were improved from having to prepare a project and present it at the end. It also gave me many specific skills in that area of research and gave great insight into how Industry in this area works.

The office/lab I worked in was very friendly. The atmosphere was relaxed, however this did not mean we did no work! Everyone had a good ethos towards work but was not stressed about it.

The scheme has been running for a few years and so is firmly in place at the company. Our grad student representative was very proactive with getting us involved and sorting out meetings and my manager understood exactly what the program entailed. The only downside was that sometimes it took a long time to hear about things; especially at the start between being told I had the placement and then specific details.

I received similar training to everyone else who was working in the same area.

I would very much like to work for Unilever as I enjoyed my placement with them immensely. From passing the summer scheme I have been put forward to the final round of the graduate scheme assessments and so will hopefully be successful!

Everyone got on really well and there was always something happening most weekends; it was great fun!

I lived in Liverpool and commuted in. Liverpool itself was a great city and not too expensive. The area around work was more expensive, and there were only a few pubs/bars/restaurants, but the train to Liverpool was easy and we always went out there.

Again, the nightlife in Liverpool, where I was living, was great. Around work there was not much in the village but Liverpool was easy to get to and also where most other placement and grad scheme students lived.

There were quite a few sports teams associated with the company, but there was a lot to do outside of work too.