Software Engineer Review

My role was to develop internal web applications used to improve business efficiency. My day would consist of having a morning 'stand-up' meeting with my team to discuss what we are doing on that day. Then I would spend the rest of the day working on my code, frequently scheduling in calls with my co-workers to discuss any issues I was having. The project lifecycle would often last about six weeks before I would start a new application.

I was given lots of responsibility during my placement without all the intimidating pressure that usually comes with this. I was often tasked with completing a section of the applications individually and given a deadline for which this needed to be done by. Sometimes this work was new to me, or the deadline felt like it was not achievable. However, in these situations, my team were very supportive and always came to an agreement to help me move forward.

I have learnt many new skills and also developed on my existing skills. At university I learnt the basics of web development however, during my time at JLR they exposed me to industry practices. My coding level prior to my placement felt very raw and did not feel like it could be used in my career but at JLR I was taught how to program full-stack applications that are now used by over 50 stakeholders daily. Aside from technical skills, the main two characteristics that were developed were presenting and being organised. I would constantly be asked to present my work and over time I became more and more confident. With regards to organisation, there is no room for error in the workplace for double booking meetings or missing a deadline, so I was forced to use my calendar religiously and I now carry these skills with my in my final year of university.

On reflection, I believe I received support whenever I needed it, whether that is from me asking or someone around me sensing I was struggling a little and offering help. On many occasions I would go to my team with a technical question and they were always happy to offer their expertise. With regards to personal support, I would have fortnightly catch-ups with my manager who would ask me about how I was feeling mentally. Being neurodiverse, from the outset my manager put in place special adjustments for me to feel comfortable whilst working.

During my time there, I thought the company culture was very advanced. My only drawback was that I felt the employees would only see each other at work and there was not a lot of friendships beyond work. I would put this down to the location of the headquarters as most people would be driving in for an hour every day and there were not many places local to go after work. Saying this, JLR constantly organised special days to celebrate different cultures and themes such as LGBTQ+, Islam and Remembrance Day to name a few.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at JLR for many reasons. It felt like the perfect balance of learning and working. I was always offered the choice to work on projects that I was familiar or unfamiliar with which gave me the perfect balance of learning and also providing business value. Aside from this, I also loved how collaborative the culture is there. Everyone is always open to have a chat and find out more about each other. I made friends there that I will know for life.

Yes