IT Systems Review

I was very happy with my experience from my work placement. Both in terms of skills and opportunities. This gives you a good insight into how organizations operate. There are always new and interesting opportunities which are available to get involved with to keep you busy and to expand your knowledge.

You are a valued member of the team from day one. The team I was a part of were always on hand to answer questions which I had. Members of the team were always on hand to pass on their experiences of certain tasks which helps build a more rounded understanding of the tasks at hand.

Support was provided where needed, there is responsibility of the student to seek out support if it is required. There are no questions which are too simple, which is important to understand during the early stages of the work placement as it is difficult to adapt to the new surroundings so quickly. I have been provided projects which have opened my eyes to different career paths which I feel has been an essential part of my placement.

I feel I had a well balanced work load which helped me fully understand the tasks at hand, so that I was not rushed into completing them as quickly as possible. Workloads were increased/ decreased as an when required simply by speaking with my manager. There are peaks and troughs in work load dependent on the current situation within the team. I was always invited to help in other team members projects which allowed me to see other areas of the business.

The level of responsibility was one of the things which surprised me the most. I was given tasks which affected the whole site and ran projects which allowed me to mentor multiple managers at the same time which allows you to be recognized within the organization. I feel this is one of the key highlights of the year as I have been able to produce tasks which I would not of expected at the start of the year. The level of responsibility is something that I can say helps with 'feeling like one of the team' and not a student on work placement, which is great.

The core modules in the student development program helped with the basics for example, time management, managing conflict, presentation skills etc. All of these can be applied during the placement and also in future career opportunities. Skills which I have gained by simply being a part of a professional orghanisation such as etiquette have helped me understand the working environment which should allow me to fit into other teams very quickly.

The atmosphere within the department was always positive, people are laid back but are fully aware of the tasks which they are responsible for. General discussions occur between members of the department but the end tasks which are required for that day are always complete.

The organization of the placement is co-ordinated by the HR department which provided us with an induction week and 5 core modules. We were given instructions on our expectations and what we should expect in return from our peers which was useful to know at the beginning of the placement. There are always contacts to speak to if you are unhappy about anything which is reassuring to know.

I felt that the standard training which is set on was helpful but any further training must be requested. This is something that is useful as the extra training which you seek out will be training which is going to be of use to you. There are plenty of training opportunities held and they are happy for students to take part in these sessions. I feel I have had the right amount of training and feel that they have all been relatable to what I am working towards.

The graduate opportunities are very appealing, and future prospects within the organization are very promising. There are a number of individuals within the department who have come from student positions into managerial positions which is a great incentive to want to work for Cummins. This is all based on having the need for an extra employee within the department which may be difficult to come by.

The social scene where I was located was very average. Living in a new area for a year is a difficult thing to become adjusted to straight away, therefore after a few months had passed I felt settled in. The fellow placement students were mostly great, but this is out of your control who you are with due to the large number of department recruiting students each year, but gives you a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

The living costs were not an issue as long as you are living in the right area. The costs for socializing were also not an issue due to the area in which I was located. I had no issues paying rent, bills, food etc as well as going on holidays.

The nightlife were I was located was not the best, but travelling short distances to other locations was something the students began to do during the second half of the placement which improved the situation. The nightlife as always is what you make of it and is very dependant on personal preference therefore I would not say this is a bad thing at all.

The are a number of things to get involved with outside of work but this again is down to the individual to seek out these opportunities. I regularly attended the gym in the local area which I used up my free time in the evenings to do. There are a number of sports clubs in the local area to get involved with also. The student group were regularly setting up football events etc for everyone to get involved with which allows you to fill up your free time.