Hewlett-Packard placement for Parminder
Computing and Engineering Placement Team Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:11:00 BST
Half way through his 13 month work placement at the globally renowned computing firm Hewlett-Packard, Huddersfield student Parminder Rehill has already made his mark.
Taking on a fledgling project which was initially intended to run alongside his main duties as an intern, Parminder has seen his ideas and hard work become a computing tool that has been rolled out to assist his HP colleagues across the world.
Parminder Rehill
Andy Pearce, Parminder’s manager had this to say about the 21 year old intern.
“When Parminder took on the project he had to do things he had never seen before, learning a new area of technology with a database and new programming language, yet within a month he was using it all effectively.
“Initially the tool was just designed for our team, but it was so good I thought that it would be something that we could use to help bind our teams around the world.
“Parminder has been developing the tool and making changes so it can accommodate everyone’s needs and by doing so has expanded the usefulness and capability of the product, meaning our teams can now put in consistent information.”
Studying Secure and Forensic Computing BSc (Hons) at the University of Huddersfield, Parminder found his placement via the School of Computing and Engineering’s awards winning Placement Unit.
“I started at HP in Berkshire in July 2010,” said Parminder. “There are 70 interns at the company and initially we were encouraged to stay in Student Halls so we could all get to know one another.
“Having something which I developed, rolled out to my colleagues in teams in the US and India is absolutely amazing. It was only meant to be a sideline project, but it has now become one of my main roles.
“I have learnt so much working for HP and I really enjoy it. I cannot emphasise enough how beneficial a placement year is. It’s not just about improving your technical skills but also your interpersonal skills, which are what you need for any professional job."
Parminder is in no doubt that a year in industry has been invaluable, something which his manager Andy echoes.
“The HP intern programme is extremely successful. It brings new blood into the team, new faces with fresh ideas and new approaches.
“They are an absolute asset to the company. We aim to engage interns in what we are trying to accomplish as a team, giving them responsibility and the potential to achieve things.”
The University of Huddersfield prides itself on the placement opportunities it offers its students and is among the UK’s top 10 providers of ‘sandwich’ courses. With so many graduates fighting for employment, the University places great importance on ensuring its students possess the relevant skills and experience to competitively enter the job market.
