Why did you apply to work at ASMPT?

The main objective in a placement for me was gaining the experience working in an engineering company. ASMPT for me represented a passionate, versatile and a trend setting company which was my ideal employer. The engineering experience and innovative technologies that have been developed and utilised by ASMPT over the decades has earned its reputation of being the industry leader in its sector achieving various awards, and I relished the opportunity to work for such a firm.

Does the company, and your role meet expectations?

The fact that there is always an opportunity to learn in my role everyday enthuses me. The opportunity to work with different engineering departments on various projects has been amazing. I am a highly motivated individual and enjoy working in a multicultural environment, so I was thrilled to find people with different backgrounds and experiences working together in the same projects that I was assigned.

How much responsibility were you given in your role?

I was treated no different than the rest of the members in the team. It was gradual increase in responsibility from being given standards tasks to properly integrate my working principles and methods into the department strategies, to the most important on-going company projects. It was greatly evident that my opinions and skills were greatly valued and appreciated.

What has been the biggest challenge for you?

The biggest challenge was performing my work to the standards set by the department and company. This meant undergoing vigorous training methods and working under experienced members, making mistakes and accepting criticism. ‘True learning starts when you accept that you don’t know everything about your subject area’.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The work ethic I learned in my department and the bust-your-head mindset has helped me to be more successful in the past year. As a student in university and as a future engineer at work, one thing that was persistent in me was my enthusiasm and inquisitive nature. This characteristic in me caused me to be curious and analytical about every aspect of my professional as well as my personal life. Therefore, the challenges that I face and overcoming them using logic and engineering methods to prove a point or validate something is the most satisfying factor.

Tell us about your time so far at ASMPT?

In my time so far at ASMPT, I have faced many challenges and new opportunities that have both improved my personal development in engineering and transferred skills from university into the real world. Within my department I have had the opportunity to be involved with many different projects covering various aspects of the products we deliver. The work environment is also very positive and enjoyable to be a part of with me being able to settle into work life with my colleagues easily.

What is the area like?

Weymouth is an exciting and great area to live. The lifestyle is very relaxed but there is lots of things to do especially in the outdoors including walks, climbing and water sports. There is a range of shops, bars and restaurants in town to experience and amazing beaches to visit. Weymouth is also within a reasonable distance to be able to travel to surrounding towns and areas for days out.

How much responsibility were you given in your role?

My department is very small within ASMPT meaning I have been given more responsibility to take on projects and lead a structure to them that will create a deliverable to a customer. I have been treated the same as anyone else at the company and being a student hasn’t made a difference to what projects I am involved in or the responsibility I have.

Do you feel your experience will improve your graduate prospects?

Choosing to take on a placement year has been a great opportunity so far with it providing me with experience in the workplace before finishing university that will have to give me a graduate job at the end of my degree. It has also allowed me to learn new personal and engineering skills that can be taken into my final year of university improving the way I work.

What has ASMPT done to make you feel safe at work due to the pandemic?

COVID-19 has brought a range of challenges to both university and placement life. However, ASMPT was very open and reassuring before me joining that the placement would still go ahead. ASMPT are also very committed in making sure that their colleagues and their families remain safe and have put in a range of measures in line with the latest government guidelines. This includes face masks, social distancing, hand sanitising, temperature monitors and a mix of working from home and on site.

How have you found it, settling in to the company and you role?

Settling in to the company and my role was very easy and smooth. I had the chance to be mentored throughout my placement which helped me in always learning and not feeling lost. At first, there was a lot I had to learn and understand about the company and its procedures but I received all the support I required, whether it is from my mentor or colleagues, to become up to speed with everyone else.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

Working in the customised products department gives me the chance to work on several projects at the same time. I enjoy this the most about my role since each project is different from the other where I am able to learn something new while working at each project. Moreover, this has helped me immensely with my multitasking skills where I have to stay up to date with every project in order not to miss any deadlines.

Does the company and role meet your expectations?

Working in the customised products gave me the opportunity to become creative and innovative to come up with solutions that will meet the customers’ needs. In addition, I was given the opportunity to lead and manage my own project and report my findings to different departments. I was also able to work in a team for other projects which required me to be a team player in order to achieve the final goal of the team.

What has ASMPT done to make you feel safe at work due to the pandemic?

ASMPT has been very supportive to me to make me feel safe at work due to the pandemic. For example, they made it possible for me to work remotely from home when it is not required for me to be on site where they provided me with a desk, chair, and all the needs to make me comfortable to work from home. Also, several measures are taken on site to ensure the safety of everyone such as the availability of hand sanitising stations, temperature monitors, face masks, and etc.

Tell us about your time so far at ASMPT?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at ASMPT so far. At the start I was given mini projects to familiarize myself with the different tools being used within our team as well as the types of data and projects that I will be dealing with in the future. As time passed by and I gained more confidence with the tools used I started getting tasked with larger projects where the experience I gained in the earlier weeks have helped me get on with those projects and actively take part in project planning and discussions with project leaders. I feel like my placement has been structured in a way to ensure concrete improvement; increasing responsibilities and project difficulty as time goes on while I gain more and more experience. Moreover, I highly appreciate the fact that my voice is always heard during project planning and meetings, and that each task I am assigned is of importance to the workflow of the whole department regardless of how small it is.

Have you been given guidance and support in your role?

Yes, I have always been able to seek help from my manager or the other mentors in our team who have been extremely supportive. In situations where they have not been able to help, I was always guided to the personnel able to assist me. In general, I can safely say that I felt a positive and supportive atmosphere within ASMPT that ensured my development in the 2 months that I have been working here.

What were the perks on your work placement?

I have been using Flexi Time to comfortably manage my own working hours. I have also taken advantage of the corporate gym membership at Zone Fitness to use their excellent facilities at a discounted price. I am also well aware of additional perks that I am yet to use, such as the Cycle To Work Scheme offered by ASMPT and other major companies around the UK.

What has ASMPT done to make you feel safe at work due to the pandemic?

ASMPT has been extremely supportive of its placement students during the pandemic; ensuring their placements go as planned in spite of the ongoing situation. In line with government advice, some students whose roles could be carried out remotely were asked to work from home. In addition, while aiming to limit the spread of the virus within the company, ASMPT has separated the various teams into different zones; limiting face-to-face contact between staff members within the company and ultimately avoiding developing an outbreak. Furthermore, staff members are always following health guidelines on-site; from wearing masks and gloves in the event of a face-to-face meeting to sanitizing and keeping 2-meter distance at all times. Overall, I felt quite safe and comfortable working on site in the time that I did, and when there was cause for concern the management acted promptly to change working arrangements of some teams, including the one I’m in, to work from home. In doing so, we were even allowed to borrow office equipment to comfortably set up work-stations at home; which shows the level of support we received and for which I am grateful.