Placement Year Review at Arcadia group

The Role

Role Description

Working for the retail team and the head office team within Miss Selfridge.

Resourcing - Posting adverts for vacancies, screening CV's, interviewing, organising assessment days. Managing the vacancy reports, keeping the succession plans updated. Completing my own projects that I wanted to become involved with.

Learning and Development - Helping to support training days and courses.

Everyday tasks could be doing disciplinaries, exit interviews, staff inductions. Helping to log all information, such as sickness within the employees. Support with the running of Bonus and Pay Review each year. Heavily invloved with organising travel and accomodation for managers or head office staff.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I could not have asked for more. It gave me a great insight to human recources and how a large company is run. I learnt more than I'd hoped for, and was able to get involved with as much as possible. I made some great friends, and so the social side was just as good.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Within my team I know I was seen as permanent member. I was trusted to complete tasks myself which gave me confidence. However, being such a big company meant that not everyone in the brand may know your face and name.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I was given weekly 1:1's with my manager, where we would discus what I've been up to and how I can improve. I was also given appraisals which was a good chance to chat openly to my manager. My manager fully supported me and we had a great relationship throughout the year.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

During the start of my placement I often felt I had free time, and was able to take long lunch breaks. After my 3rd month my work load picked up, as I become more competent in my role. I was working from 9-6, often without a lunch break. It meant the days went very quickly and you really appreciated the weekends!

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I believe it was up to me to gain the trust of my team to get given the responsibilty. By the end of my placement I was managing all the junior vacancies, screening CV's and interviewing on my own. I was responsible for sending out weekly reports, that went to all the heads of departments. So in my case, I felt I had a large amount of responsibility.

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 feel that my computer skills have improved, due to training courses I was sent on. But I feel that the main gain is going to be beyong my degree. I now know that I want to work in HR, and so for that reason, this year has given me a chance to have a taste of the real thing.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Really good fun. Everyone was very busy, but there was always time for a laugh and a chat. You worked hard, but with people who you could get on with well. Plus the fact that it was a fashion company was a massive perk......lots of shoes!!

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

It is completely up to you to make it what it is. It worked hard to get involved with as much as I could. Your manager would help support you, but it was mainly up to you to get what you wanted out of it.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I was sent on a few courses, mainly to improve my HR knowledge. Working in HR meant that I was able to attend lots of training and development courses, but as the facilitator, rather than the student.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

• Subsidised/Company Gym
• National Travel
• Financial Bonus
• Company Parties/Events
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I would like to return once I have graduated, and will apply to their grad scheme. I had such a great time, there would be no reason to not go back.

Other Information

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I was the only HR student there, however there were 2 other finance students on placements, but not in my brand. I would socialise more with my team than any other placement students.

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

I lived and worked in London, my rent was very high and going out was very expensive. Without the help of my parents I would not have had the fun that I had.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Brilliant. I got to know London well and there was always a different club or bar to try out. We had some local bars that we would go to after work for a few quick vino's which was good fun.

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

If I had time, I'm sure there would have been. I joined the Miss Selfridge social comittee, so planning events for that took up some time. At weekends, shopping was always the best way to spend a day out in London.

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?

Working for the Arcadia Group was the best thing I did, I had tons of fun and met loads of great people. I feel I got involved with alot more than any of my friends did on theres. Plus the free clothes helped if you were ever missing the student life style!

Review 1/4 for Arcadia group

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