Placement Year Review at Villa Saint Exupery

The Role

Role Description

I have been doing a 11 month placement. Throughout the months I worked from housekeeping department to Administration department.
I decided not to take up driving responsabilities hence my roles within the Villa were a little limited. But if you have a driving licence you could be involved in more divers jobs, such as receptionist, night/day driver/ security person. The jobs were varied in terms of the lenght of work, clenaign 4-5 hour daily, bed makign the same or occasionally longer 6 hours. But rarely 8 hours, although there are days on high peak period when you could be scheduled for double shifts.
Housekeeping involved cleaning the rooms to a high standard and making beds and also because the Hostel has a garden keepign tidy and organised that as well. The hostel has great amount of services which are mainly offered for free. Amongst them I did map explaing which is during breakfast to get people going and have great experiences on their day trip we also help with advice on how to get to the tram, bus or train stop etc.
Also the Villa is working in cooperation with various activity cmpanyies such as skuba diving, waterskiing, yoga, rock climbing, etc.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I would have love to learn more about the marketing of the company which I never go to hence I am a little dissapointed.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

The team is great however if you are a little high maintenance person and don't drink you migh feel that you dont belong here. There is a lot of opportunity to travel and party together. many people formed lifetime friendships.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Managers are always busy but when you got a question you could turn to them anytime of the day. They organised for interns and staff free activities and numerousely thanked separately our hard work, which is appreciated.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

During the vinter time Christmas and New years eve was busy, and March onwords the summer begun to bring great amount of business. Then is lot of hard work to keep up the good reviews that we achieved thoruhgout winter.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Trainign new staff and being responsable for them for the day is great. Although I wished sometimes for instance on Reception we were given more empowerment from management.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I still finding challenging to link the placemnet experinece to hte actually accademic studies, but slowly will clear up. For inastance if i look at the structure of the organisation is working in , or the strategy they using to get more people into the hostel as well as analising the pricing techniques then I feel I am well prepared.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Everybody is young and energetic hence is great atmosphere to be in.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

There are improvements to be made, for instance to have set programme though which all interns can have equal attention and taken through all the departments of the organisation and not stationised at housekeeping for too long time.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

We were given free food, free accommodation, occasionally organised diners out with the managers and the rest of the interns.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

• Flexi Time
• International Travel
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was a hard worker and continousely been ask whether I consider working for them in the future. I would like to try other parts of the industry too, hence I might come back for shoreter period of time.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

We all get along with each other. Nice is full of events in msot months hence gone to a few events together and enjoyed it.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Transport is is cheap as chips:) 1 euro to go all the way to Monaco. And many other destinations in the region along the Cote D'Azur. Food is affordable although I didnt buy too much of it. The local markets have the best prices.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

There are various great bars that are open til 2 in the mornign or others are open till 4-5 int he moring. Since we also accommodated many from other countries who cam eto study french , there was always a good group of people when we gone out. Lot of fun.

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

The region has a great amount of event organised, just think of the Grnad Prix Mpnaco, Film Festival , Salsa Festival Cannes, Carneval of nice. etc.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

The first months wil pass by slowly and as you get to know your area and get used to the workign schedule uyou get to have some fun time for yourself then 10 months going to go by like wind. I havent left yet but I feel already i am going to miss this litte community where I found frineds for life, become confident then ever.