Placement Year Review at ProspectSoft Ltd

The Role

Role Description

Daily duties included qualifying prospective clients, promoting the company and booking sales appointments.

Major projects included extensive telemarketing campaigns for events, partner days and selected customer and market segments.

Creative aspects included web design, Pay Per Click and Adwords advertising, Graphic design, multimedia marketing such as videos, demonstrations and presentations and brochures/reports and other soft selling marketing materials.

Selling was key, visiting prospective and existing clients, attending sales meetings and proposing and demostrating software solutions for a whole manner of customers and industries.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My placement year at ProspectSoft was easily the most enjoyable and fulfilling year of my academic/work career yet. No two days were the same, the tasks were challenging and exciting and the people were just fantastic.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

From the beginning of placement more than adequate time at focus was invested in myself and fellow placements. Training was intense and extensive, covering a wide range of aspects from industry and market movements, to sales and marketing theory and internal processes. Hard work was acknowledged and praised and a real effort to make me feel part of the family was evident.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My manager(s) were simply fantastic. My line manager changed during my placement and the effort to continue my development and work with other managers was smooth and successful. Whatever department you were in, you were sure to find other managers and directors who were enthusiastic and willing to give up their departmental time to help other areas of the business.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Very busy, but I'm not complaining! There were always different projects and tasks to be focusing on. Self management was key, but other staff, managers and directors were fantastic to guide and encourage placements on whatever tasks they had to manage.

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

A whole load of it! About two months in to my placement I was running my own marketing projects, managing my own timescales, work loads and having the opportunity to utilise my own interests and skill sets. I was fortunate enough to have a manager and director that recognised my key skill set, and allowed me to bring my own ideas to the table. Throughout each project; which included designing marketing material from flyers to an advent calendar, to designing and implementing an entire website, I was given the creative space and freedom to try different things whilst supported and encouraged from both management and other staff.

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 came out of placement a year older and about 4 years wiser. My communication skills, design skills, marketing knowledge, sales skills and general organisation has improved so much that it's not only re-enthused my love and motivation to succeed in marketing at university, but enriched my personal life, helping me succeed in running my own club night, meeting new people and generally having established some key goals and career plans. I wouldn't be the same person if I had not completed placement at ProspectSoft.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

No matter what we were doing, there was always a little time to blow off some steam and relax. The culture in the office was great and there was always a little banter to brighten up the day. People motivated each other and praise for a job well done was never withheld. I really will miss those days in the office!

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

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Training was extensive and well planned for the first month or so. We received an unparalleled insight into everything ProspectSoft, from our partner channels, to the software to actual sales skills. Once working, we had key tasks and projects to be working on, in which our line manager and director would support and guide us, as well as getting stuck in to show us how it was done.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Great! ProspectSoft has a program in place called "placement academies". This is a program designed to help placements track their own progress and development in key areas and competencies such as internal processes, sales skills, promoting the company, solving difficult problems etc. What i liked about this program was that once it was explained to us it was up to us to make the most of it. No hand holding was given here, and the various competencies for which we had to justify through examples of our work really made you focus on the different tasks and projects you could pick to get involved in.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

• Financial Bonus
• Company Parties/Events
• Working from home

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was offered a job with the company towards the end of my placement and jumped at the chance to go back. The people there are brilliant to work with and given that a majority of the staff their were placements it goes to show how supportive and fun the working environment is. I thoroughly look forward to returning next year.

Other Information

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

We regularly went out in Oxford and London for big nights as well as just generally hanging out with staff after work. Friday pub visits were regular as was the opportunity to get involved with sports, gym and court sessions and the odd xbox night in!

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

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Not too bad considering it was Oxford. I broke even for the year which might not sound great to some, but considering I was loading my petrol tank with most of my wages to get to Nottingham to see family most weekends I was pretty happy with the living costs. we didnt live too far from work either, so lift sharing and short drives kept the pennies down.

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Oxford is amazing for going out and London isn't too far on the coach!

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

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Yes, lots of team sports such as Football as well as going to the local sports centre for badminton, squash.

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?

I think it takes a certain person to work and prosper at ProspectSoft. If you're interested in a company that will take on board your ideas, skills and encourage you to utilise them, then apply here. At the end of the day it really is up to you to make the most of the year. Those that feel they'd like to work for a company that will hold their hand need not apply. Sure, like most companies there are areas that could be improved, developed or invested in, but the whole point of a placement, particularly in a small company like ProspectSoft is that it's you're opportunity to make a difference and improve things. I think this is reflected in the companies culture and if you like a challenge and want responsibility you WILL prosper here. The best decision I've made so far in my life (as cheesy as that sounds) was to do a placement at ProspectSoft. The second best decision was to go back to work for them after uni. This placement gives back what you put in, so make the most of it people!

Review 28/30 for ProspectSoft Ltd

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