Placement Year Review at Debenhams

The Role

Role Description

Collating information/spec for Debenhams.com, organising product shoots, both still life and model and imported these to the portal. Dealing with an array of people, buying, graphics, media, studio etc.

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

It got to the stage where I hated getting up in the morning, the role itself was far too much work for me to cope with, making me resent the job and particularly the organisation.

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

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

The team, on the same level were all lovely people but also busy so it was a VERY quiet office, management kept themseleves to themseleves untill they barked at you in weekly meetings. Online merch teams were not closely integrated and appeared to have very little to do in comparison.

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I recieved support, but was never thanked. It was a post-it office, i could only speak to my manager if i booked time with her through outlook.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

WAY too much work considering i replaced two people doing the role i was taking on.

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

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Rated 6/10

I was in charge of getting certain department products online, but often the buying side treat samples like their children so nothing ever went to plan. This was obviously over seen by management but all WPA's had their own areas to deal with, but these varied in size and weren't logistical.

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

To give credit where it's due, lots of training was offered, but it was all very cringy, but i understand it would have helped other people and made you understand that everyone was in the same boat with regard to how they felt towards their role/organisation.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

It was a VERY quiet office, everyone was so busy.

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

I was thrown in at the deep end, but that works for some people. I wasnt treated like an intern at all, it was as if i was starting a permanent role, and such the organisation was like that in my department. The company as a whole did have a strategic training plan and integration sessions.

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

★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 4/10

As said, the company did enlist a lot of traning, and i was paid, but i feel like i gave them a lot more than i got back, and much of that was my sanity.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

• Travel loan

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

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

Wild horses would have to drag me back.

Other Information

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

The occasional friday drink.

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

★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 3/10

As said we didnt socialise with work, but I live close by and know the area well. London as a whole isn't cheap, but can be done cheaper than people think. Go East.

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

★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 2/10

The nightlife in and around Oxford St is good once in a while, but heavily pretentious, expensive and, erm, diamante(d). Again, go east.

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

★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 1/10

To be frank, my free time was spent thinking as little about Debenhams as possible.

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 when the web department has moved away from the 1990's and start using more sophisticated software and operating systems, there will be far more scope. Please dont go into this role thinking it's fashion related, you will be sorely dissapointed, and that goes for Buying and Merch roles also, it's very watered down fashion role and completely admin centered. Whilst on a placement, use your free time to network and do other experience elsewhere to get a deeper understanding of the industry.

Review 18/25 for Debenhams

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