Placement Year Review at East

The Role

Role Description

• Kept the showroom tidy and presentable at all times
• Worked alongside the head buyers, helping take the workload off them as much as possible
• Had full knowledge of the buying software ‘CIMS’ was able to raise sample orders and amend them
• Handled the press agency; made sure correct samples were sent out; and chased up the agency to send them back
• Liaised between my line managers and the warehouse through constant communication.
• Regularly wrote articles for the in house magazine
• Prepared for many of the meetings by collating information packs and arranging what samples were to be shown
• Checked quality control of the samples, and then liased back with what could be improved to the suppliers from Thailand, India and the Phillipines

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

Because East had no placement scheme i was thrown right into work with no previous experience and sometimes felt out of my depth.

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

★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 4/10

I got on very well with my collegues, but they were dissatisfied at times with the work i was producing

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

They were very critical of every tiny mistake i made

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 4/10

Sometimes i didnt have time for lunch and worked past well past office hours. Sometimes i struggled to find things to do

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

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I felt i was given too much responsibility for the level i was at

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

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 0/10

I learned so many skills on my placement, but cant apply any of them to my course Brunel, as all Brunel is interested in is the theories behind business, which when you go into business they arent interested in at all. They want to know what actual, material experience you have gained

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

Very quiet, very politically correct

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I had to set it up myself

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I always felt like they knew they only had to have me for 10 months

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 0/10

• There were no perks with this placement year

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

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 0/10

I wouldnt want to work for them again, they wouldnt want me to work for them again

Other Information

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

Hardly any social interaction at all

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

I live in London, enough said...

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

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 0/10

It was in an industrial area in Earsfield

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

Yes, again, i live 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?

DO A WORK PLACEMENT!!!! I might not have had a good time, but it taught me sooo much and has already put me ahead than my fellow peers. If you can apply for a bigger company, i made the mistake of not doing that, they invest more time with their placement schemes and have more job opportunities once you have graduated. I certainly didnt learn anything from my course at Brunel that will ever be any use in the working world so my placement was an absolute life saver