Placement - GLC Computing

Nature of the business:

bulletComputer programming, research into loop storage and consultancy.

Career paths available within this business:

bulletIT Consultant, IT Programmer.

General information on what I did during the placement:

bulletI worked as a researcher on loop compression, this included understanding how to computer program, printing out masses of flow sheets on how parts of the program work and how it can decompress and designing complex presentations.

Daily Diary:

bulletMonday: I started to learn the basics about loop storage and spent hours and hours trying to understand how compression programs work. I had a lunch break at about 2:00 p.m. - 2.30 p.m. and then got back to what I was doing. I then attempted some very basic computer programming but failed miserably. I finished work at 4.00 p.m.
bulletTuesday: I was taught how to design and print flow sheets using Microsoft Visio, I printed out many pages, each on a different part of the program that I was studying. I started to understand loop compression more, the Director of the company said it was all very easy, but he has been working on this level of work for nearly twenty years. I had a lunch break at 1.30 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. and worked a little more on flow sheets, I finished work at 4.00 p.m.
bulletWednesday: I attempted again some very basic computer programming under the most basic of computer languages (it happens to be called "Basic"). I spent a few hours doing some basic programs and then got back into research in loop compression. I had a lunch break at 1.30 p.m. - 2.00.p.m. I continued at what I was doing and and finished at 3.30 p.m.
bulletThursday: I designed a presentation on the line of the work that I had been doing for the past few days under Microsoft PowerPoint. I explained in great detail and spent a few hours making it more complex. 
bulletFriday: I did some computer programming, more work on flow sheets and made the last finishing touches to my presentation. I finished at 4.30 p.m.

Location and Travel arrangements:

bulletLocation of the business is in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Ways of getting there are by bus or by car.

Particular skills or abilities needed:

bulletBeing a computer programmer, this means being able to program in many different computer languages such as Basic, C, C++.

Health and Safety requirements:

bulletHaving a break from the computer every hour as staring at a computer screen puts strain on the eyes.

Advice for anyone considering this as a work-experience placement:

bulletDo not work there unless you are a computer genius, some of it sounds simple but loop compression is very complicated.

Advice for anyone considering this as a career:

bulletWork as a contractor under GLC Computing instead of working directly for the company, it means you get to do other types of programming instead of being a researcher in loop compression.