Placement Year Review at Debenhams

The Role

Role Description

- Presenting Best & Worst on a Monday morning.
- Managing samples needed to be photographed for the internet site & for the press department.
- Attending fit sessions three times a week & ensuring comments were sent to suppliers asap.
- Responding to approvals for suppliers.
- Ensuring the critical path is updated & correct.
- Maintaining the samples.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I really enjoyed my job. I was a part of the team straight away & didn't have to make tea and photocopy all the time! I was able to do so much and people didn't even know I was a placement student.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

My colleagues were lovely, i miss them now i've left! The majority of people were very close to me in age so I felt I had a lot in common with them.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I was always able to talk to my Buyer if I had a problem, she was very approachable. I had three appraisals whilst I was there, where my Buyer would go through how she felt about the way I was working etc.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

I was always very busy, sometimes I felt as if I couldn't cope but if that was the case I would make it known to my team and we would work through it together. I preferred to be busy all the time a the day just flew past. I often ate my lunch at my desk whilst working and would get in early and leave late but I didn't mind as I enjoyed the job.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I got lots of responsibility, which was great. I was given certain tasks that I took control of every week.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I cannot imagine going into my final year, graduating and getting my first job without having done the placement. I wouldn't be nearly as knowledgeable as I am now after the placement. It teaches you things about the general working life as well as the industry. I would highly recommend doing the placement year.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Everyone was lovely and we had a lot of fun but we also worked hard.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Debenhams have been doing the placement scheme for years, it all ran very smoothly.

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

There were lots of training sessions that we were able to attend and I was always pushed to learn as much as I could and ask loads of questions so I could get as much as possible out of the experience.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

• Company Parties/Events
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop
• Travel loan

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was offered a job at the end of the placement as were a lot of the placement students.

Other Information

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I think we were all always so busy & lived all over the place we tended not to go out much together but instead go out with our teams and departments.

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

Head Office is in central London so it is obviously fairly expensive, you just have to take advantage of the happy hours!

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

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

It was ok, quite a few bars near the office within walking distance or everywhere is a tube ride away in London.

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

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

I don't think there were any activities, after work you tend to be really tired anyway and with a long commute home it didn't bother me.

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?

It's a fantastic opportunity and I would highly recommend doing it if you have the chance.

Review 3/26 for Debenhams

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