Summer placement Review

10/10, I felt extremely comfortable is the work place, I was made to feel part of the team. The project was well explained to me and I had a very good idea before I even came to the interview what it was going to be like, I would recommend to any student to do an internship at atkins.

I was creating a 3d enviroment which was a new job to the site I was at. It was intriguing to ther employees and they took a lot of interest into how I was doing and how far the project was coming along. After being there only 7 weeks I felt apart of the family and was extremly sad to leave.

Support was always there. It was encouraged to ask someone rather than stuggle no matter how simple to problem may seem. I felt this attitude towards other helping gave me the confidence to ask my manager whenever I was stuck, I was given a lot of guidance to make sure the project was where they expected. I had regular meeting with my line manager and the boss above him, to get an insite to where things are and how they can move forward.

The first week was quite slow, having induction tasks which didnt feel very important when I was only there for 7 weeks (one whole week seemed quite extreme). Especially when I was learning about things that wasn't relevant. Once I cokls get started on the project I felt I always had enough work to do whist at work, but was never stressed that I had too much.

Due to my project being a new job, I was originally meant to be lead by my line manager. But as I have spent three years at uni learning the programmes after the first two weeks I was taking over managing my project and another person on my team. I was praised for this and given a task to teach five others how to take over once I left. I felt I was given a wonderful opportunity to take lead and to l teach others.

The skills I learnt at atkins, where not only software skils, but how to be in a working enviroment. At university you learn how to do your project but not very much on team work, managing and client deadlines. I feel this was something I realy learnt from, how everyone works differently in a team, how i could mange that when leading, and how important making sure work was complete on time.

The General atmosphere in the office was lovely. I was quite and easy to get on with your own work, but at the same time not strict that could take 5 minutes out to speak to someone, or ask for advice. There was many events which meant everyone could get to know each other out of work. This was helpful as I moved there alone and had no one around that I knew with a 6 hour journey home.

Some parts could have been organised better. The first week of induction I was given tasks about science.. Something that was very irrelevant to creating 3d models. Along with tasks about being on site.. Again something that would never have happened in my 7 weeks. It then took over that whole week to get software, something which I expected there on my first day, as it as software which had been discussed in the interview, so was not surprise to anyone.

I feel due to the small amount of time I was there, this didn't come up as major part. The project I worked on will have made a great difference and I am welcomed back next year. But I was advised not to do the CV due to the time frame, and the tasks I was given to pass wasn't at all relevant to have made a difference. I think this would be different given a longer time frame.

This is a job I would love to do forever. Due to going back to university I obviously could only stay for 7 weeks. However, once I left I was told that I would be welcome back next summer, which is a great prospective and opportunity as long as the company has a project for me to work on.

Unfortunately, during my time at Atkins I didn't get chance to met others on the summer placement. I came with a girl from my univerisity, and we were both given the 'buddy' of our line manager. Which felt slightly unfair as that wasn't really the reason they have the buddy system, so we didn't get much chance to speak to other alike.

The cost was quite average, in Whitehaven the cost of living is reasonable. To stay the 7 weeks I did have to get a house which cost me £75 a week, this was quite abit when I was working the summer and still a student on minimum wage but it was manageable. I think the wage could be slightly higher as the projects we were creating would in a normal job be paid significantly more.

In the middle of Whitehaven there really isn't a great deal of nightlife. When I came for the summer I didn't expect a night life and I wasn't extremely interested in spending my time going out. So during my 7 weeks there I was mainly going home at weekends and never spent a night out in the town.

There was opportunitys outside of work, every weekend, sometimes twice a weekend. From drinking out on the town, to football events, cinema, and sporting events. The company had spent a lot of time in making sure these events went ahead so everyone could bond and get to know one another outside work.