Sarah Melrose was a fantastic Guest Blogger last year on her placement at Microsoft.  Read her 5 top reasons on why to do a placement….there is no excuse not to do one now!!

5 reasons to do a placement:

”So it’s back to Uni for me, after a fantastically challenging year at Microsoft I’m back to working towards my Microsoft degree. The difference is that I now have a more mature attitude to studying and I am much more focused on getting on and doing things. Firstly, this means I’m much more likely to achieve a 2:1 or more than if I hadn’t completed a placement year.

If that alone doesn’t convince you then the prospect of having a better chance at graduate jobs should help you take the decision to do a placement year. Not only have I got all this fantastic experience on my CV to stand out against my competitors when applying, it really helps when going for interviews. After a placement year you will have so many great examples to give in an interview you’re much more likely to impress the employer and get that job! You will also have a much better idea of what an employer wants from an interview having developed a great interview technique after searching for a placement and learning from mistakes.

Some employers also use their placement scheme as their tool for graduate recruitment, meaning you could go for a graduate interview whilst still on placement and have a graduate job lined up before you even finish, Wouldn’t that be nice in your final year?

Finally, employers are now listing a sandwich placement as part of their essential criteria. Big names like Google, L’Oreal and TUI graduate schemes all prefer candidates with placement experience. So there really isn’t any reason not to do a placement!!”

Tell us what you have learnt on your placement!  Have you any interesting stories to share?  We are also on the look out for new and interesting content for the website so add your comments below

Throughout the year we will be following the progress of our Guest Bloggers so read on to find out how Sarah has been getting on at GlaxoSmithKline!

”Time is continuing to go so fast on my placement year.  I am approaching 4 months and am still learning every day.  Since my last blog, we have opened applications for Industrial Placement students for 2011.  I still find it surreal that I am managing the Industrial Placement scheme for Global Manufacturing and Supply, as I am an Industrial Placement student myself.  Having so much responsibility is definitely empowering, and means that I am never bored.

I found the build up to application opening day thoroughly interesting and a real learning experience.  I had no idea how much work goes into ensuring opening for applications goes smoothly.  It is important that the materials for application forms and the subsequent materials for screening of applicants are correct.  You have to work closely with the communications department to ensure information and application forms are ready to go live on the external website.  I also had to attend a large meeting with the people that will be carrying out the application screening on our behalf.  It was insightful to see what is considered good and what was deemed to be poor examples to answers to an application questions.

There is also the marketing side of industrial placements that needs to be considered.  I attended a meeting with a large external marketing company to decide which national publications we would target.  I then had to liaise and form relationships with Universities career services as well as discipline lecturers to get our opportunities publicised.   I really enjoyed getting in contact with Universities are part of our marketing campaign.  I felt like, as an IP myself I was in an invaluable position to discuss the advantages of doing a year in industry. Continually networking with different stakeholders is also an excellent opportunity to improve communication skills.

Every month I meet with my manager for an hour to discuss my development.  I am undertaking a PDP (Performance Development Plan) during my year at GSK, and we use this time to work on this.  I was pleasantly surprised how much time is dedicated to my personal development.  My manager is continually pro active in ensuring I am being stretched and gaining exposure to interesting and challenging things.   This helps you feel like a valued employee of GSK as they want you to perform to your potential whilst working for them.   I have already set myself targets and goals for the year, as well as identified other areas of the business I would like to gain knowledge in.  There is always the opportunity here to shadow other departments or speak to senior figures.

This week I have spent a lot of time doing event planning.  I am organising and facilitating to large events in early 2011.  This has been a completely new experience to anything I have ever done before, but has been very enjoyable.  I am looking forward to both the events, and although there is a long way to go before the day itself I like having some long term projects to focus on.  There is so much from a logistical point of view to remember when running events for large numbers of people….being organised is proving vital! I’ll keep you updated and explain more about these events as they continue to take shape!”

Find out more from Sarah at GSK, as well as our other Guest Bloggers over the coming year!

Feel free to add your thoughts below! Would you like a placement at GSK?

Here is a blog from a new student, who is the first ever placement student at Amino Communications! Have a read and see what she has to say!

“I’m Sophie Burke, a placement student at Amino Communications, currently an ITMB Loughborough University student.

Amino Communications is an IPTV and hybrid/OTT innovator (for people who are a bit confused by this, the company creates set-top boxes for a number of telcos), with over 850 customers in 85 countries (it’s a pretty big company) and over three million devices sold – Amino’s award-winning solutions are deployed by major network operators and service providers worldwide.

I am currently working in the Marketing department based in their global headquarters in Cambridge; I am the Administrative Assistant and the only placement student but that hasn’t worried me at all, Amino’s has made me feel like I am part of the team already!!

For the first few weeks, I got into the way of working life…I have to admit getting up at 7am was a bit of a struggle, though I soon adjusted! And it seemed I had arrived just at the right time. Amino was currently going through a process of a rebrand and I had lots of projects to get stuck into!

As part of the rebrand, Amino created a new website, making it more user friendly and interactive! Sarah (my manager) and I had our work cut out making the final tweaks and I have been putting my programming skills to the test ever since. One of our biggest events of the year IBC in Amsterdam took place in the middle of September and I was able to help organise this, create surveys for the customers and help produce collateral for the event. This month, I have been able to sit down and plan my whole year after seeing how each of the departments are run and deciding what I really want to pursue. For the first term, I will be creating a proposal for the new CSR programme Amino is going to produce and our intranet site needs a refresh so I will be able to manage a team, budget and have a scheduled time, which I can’t wait for!

Managed to organise a social this week as well! We are all going bowling on Monday in Cambridge and having a few drinks, which I have to admit I’m terrified about because I’m so bad at bowling!

Even though I’ve only been at Amino a few months, I have learnt a lot from how to interact with different people (I’ve had to earn some engineering lingo!), how to manage my time and to just give as much feedback and ideas as you can because even though they may be wrong, they appreciate you trying!

Anyways, I better finish here as I have to actually do some work today….”

Keep up to date with what other people are doing on placement, read the additions from our Guest Bloggers over the next year!

Throughout the year we will be following the progress of our Guest Bloggers so read on to find out how David has been getting on at CSC!

”Reading on career websites, watching presentations, talking to friends, hearing from graduates, all I am told regarding how beneficial a companys placement scheme is: “it’s what you make of it”. I’m now going to be the millionth person to say it. It’s what you make of it.

I must say, it was a surprise to be running 13+ hour a days in my 3rd week. I genuinely didn’t expect to see this from outside the banking sector. But again, it’s what I made of what they were offering. Don’t get me wrong, CSC will allow you to take things at your own pace and work your 7.5 hour days if you want. But you will obviously be given responsibility and jobs to match that work ethic.

So a few things about CSC. They definitely have one of the best office bases in the UK, especially the restaurant. The intern program isn’t very structured and hasn’t been in place for very long, which shows from the lack of planned nights out or events. Despite an inclining intake, there are not many intern students within the company, so don’t expect many people in the same boat as you (especially if your outside of the HQ). Finally, CSC seem very generous towards the flexibility of your work day. Something I appreciate very much. As long as you can reach your team and work to the same level, you can switch your hours around and work from home if need be.

As far as how business is going, I have been assigned to my first travel project over the water… Unfortunately I can’t tell too many details due to the nature of the project. But it is definitely good to get a bit of travelling so early on the schedule. (Although in honesty, I wouldn’t say it would be the standard you can expect from the placement program)

I also just finished my first Deliverable for the client, and it was fun to sit in on the client meetings and whatnot. (They aren’t as formal as you might think!). The deadlines were tight, and it was nice to have work that is not very technically demanding, but still very challenging in terms of quality required.

On a non-working note, I wouldn’t say CSC would be the most proactive in terms of interesting sports or hobby schemes to get involved in. There are no official sports or major events on the calendar (the grads had to create and organise their own 5-a-side team). However, for the proactive there is always something. For example there is some corporate responsibility work with the local school I’m looking to get involved in. Besides, I think it may be a good idea for me to be pro-active in maybe creating more events and get the ball rolling in that respect. Anything to raise the profile

ON A FINAL NOTE: I would advise you to make the most of your placement year. Not just with your work, but in your ability to broaden your social horizons. Move somewhere other than home and put yourself in the situation of meeting new people… again. It will change you for the better and I can guarantee for most of those reading this that it will make the world will feel allot smaller…. Even if you just move across the water.

And Remember: Network, Show Responsibility, Gain Reputation, Get the work you love.”

Find out more from David at CSC, as well as our other Guest Bloggers in the next couple of weeks!

Feel free to add your thoughts below! Would you like a placement at CSC?

Give your career a kick-start!

The National Work Placement Exhibition

28 October 2010 – Hall 11, NEC, Birmingham

• Need to find a placement as part of your sandwich course?
• Looking for voluntary or international work experience?
• Or looking to do some work experience during the holidays?

This is your opportunity to find the answers to all your career-related questions under one roof.

• Find out who offers work placements
• Research career opportunities
• Listen to presentations from recruiters
• Perfect your CV
• GET A WORK PLACEMENT!

The National Work Placement Exhibition is the perfect place to start your career, giving you the chance to meet prospective employers, find out about your options and assess your employability.

We will even pay £10 towards your transport costs!*

Don’t miss out! Register now for this autumn’s hottest work placement exhibition event!

• The National Work Placement Exhibition
• Opening times: 11am – 4pm
• Website: www.work-placement.co.uk
• Nearest station: Birmingham International

• Terms and conditions apply, visit www.work-placement.co.uk for more information

Student Profile

Name: Vicki Watmough University: Oxford Brookes Course: Business and Marketing Management Placement job title: Sales and Marketing Assistant

What did you do on a daily basis?

My Key responsibilities this year have been acting as the main point of contact for all our partners and monitoring/

supporting their activities. I have also enjoyed been involved in many strategic elements of the business and working

alongside directors and management has been a great experience into seeing how business decisions are made.

Highlights of the job

One of the best jobs I was given was the recruitment of the new sales and marketing placements. ProspectSoft gives placement students so much responsibility including finding your own replacements! This is a fantastic opportunity and involves everything from vetting hundreds of CV’s to conducting telephone interviews and running the assessment day. What more could you want but to know what employers think during your interview!

What did you learn on your placement?

I have learnt more this year than in all years of studying and find myself involved in every area of the business. My views are taken on board and acted upon which does not only make me feel like part of the team but also like I am making a difference. Throughout a placement year you learn a lot about yourself, the biggest improvement has been in my confidence, analytical skills and altogether putting my knowledge into practice.

Any top tips for a student interested in a placement here?

• Before you start your placement, try and identify specific skills which you want to develop and create your own targets to ensure that you achieve them
• Absorb as much information as you can during the training. It’s all really handy knowledge that you will need throughout the year
• Take every opportunity available, no matter how small
• Complete every job to the very best of your ability
• Meet people, remember their names and develop your network
• Be social!

• Name: Aly Jamal
• University: UCL
• Course: BA (Hons) Russian and German
• Placement / Internship Position/Job Title: Summer Intern – Corporate Tax

What was the application process like?

“The process consisted of four stages, testing a wide range of skills from numerical aptitude to business awareness. It was challenging but definitely gave me opportunity to provide evidence of when I have demonstrated the firm’s values. The interview also provided me with a great chance to ask questions about the firm and the role of an intern in that department.”

What did you do on a daily basis?

“The work I was doing was at the same level as a first year trainee with the firm. I worked on tax returns and computations, wrote e-mails to clients, liaised with HMRC and attended several client meeting. This was a great chance to learn how partners and senior managers communicate with current and prospective clients. The main highlight for me though was taking part in a corporate responsibility event. It was a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the local community.”

What did you learn on your placement / Internship?

“I learnt more about the firm’s service lines, its structure and its working culture. More specifically, having been involved in several tasks over the six weeks, I learnt the importance of prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines. Overall I feel that the internship has provided me with key skills that are vital for success in the financial world.”

Any top tips for a student interested in a placement / internship here?

“Get involved in as many things as possible! Six weeks goes really quickly. Take as much from your time in the office as possible, but also make the most of social activities. A night out with all the other interns at the Comedy Store was a particular highlight.”

To find out more about Grant Thornton and the internship opportunities, click on the button below:

Apply now!

It’s back and better than ever!  After the success of the inaugural National Placement & Internship Awards 2010, we are delighted to announce the launch of the second National Placement & Internship Awards 2011!

The Awards will be held on the 20th January 2011 at Cass Business School, right here in the heart of London. We have upped the ante this year, offering a fantastic thirteen Awards to celebrate excellence among Employers, Universities and Students.  These include five Employer Awards, three University Awards and five Student Awards…therefore there is no excuse when it comes to nominating or entering this year!

The headline Award ‘Best Placement & Internship Employer’ was won by Microsoft in 2010 and is based on the highest average rated student reviews on RateMyPlacement.co.uk.  This Award provides a great incentive for companies to encourage their students to review so click here for more information on how to do this.

A new twist for 2011 is that our other twelve Awards are open to nominations from ALL of our stakeholders.  Whether you are an Employer, University or Student, there is an Award to highlight and celebrate the excellent contribution an organisation or an individual has made to work placements and internships.

The closing date for all entries is Friday 19th November. To find out more about the Awards on offer and how to apply, nominate or perhaps even win, check out the brand new website at www.ratemyplacementawards.co.uk

Good luck and we look forward to reading all of your nominations and applications in the next few months  :)

The RateMyPlacement Team

Last week, the team visited Manchester Fresher Fair for three days! We had an awesome time and spoke to a lot of students.

However, we know you don’t want to read about it, so we’ve created a video for you to watch instead! Just click to play below!

Check back to see more videos in the future! Feel free to comment below and let us know what you think!

• Shamik Patel
• Job title: Branch Manager
• Business area: Rental
• Year joined: 2006

“The main reason why I joined Enterprise Rent-A-Car was because I wanted to embark on a genuine career, and not just take up a job. I quickly realised that Enterprise could offer me a fast and carefully structured Management Training Programme where I would gain promotions based on performance rather than tenure in the company. In short, I didn’t want to have to wait 10 years or more to get promoted, and wanted to be sure I was in full control of my career path.

During my time here, I’ve been lucky enough to work at four different Enterprise Rent-A-Car branches. I started at our Park Royal office and then moved across to our Palmers Green location. Due to a promotion to Assistant Manager, I got a chance to go to Walthamstow – still during my first year with the company. Eight months later, I was promoted to Branch Manager at Walthamstow. Currently, I’m Branch Manager at our Enfield location, managing a team of seven people and getting the best out of them.

The training and development I’ve received has given me a lot of tools to help with this. It’s taught me all sorts of things, from different coaching styles and motivational techniques to delegation and time management. It’s also helped me to improve my customer service and sales skills – both of which I rely on every day.

In terms of a typical day; there isn’t one. Each day is different from the last, and the variety that brings helps me stay really motivated. Due to the line of business we’re in, the constant customer interaction and the different accounts I get to work on, virtually anything can happen during the course of an average day.

To sum things up, I’d say that Enterprise offers an opportunity quite unlike any other. You’ll be thrown straight in at the deep end in terms of business management, in a fast paced environment where the ability to think quickly on your feet is essential. Yes, the learning curve is steep and you’ll be expected to work hard – but the scope for rapid career progression is virtually unrivalled.”

Start getting ahead of yourself by visiting our website:

www.enterprisealive.co.uk