Human Resources Review

I have really enjoyed my placement year at the PSA Groupe. I have learnt so much in such a short amount of time that I do not feel I would have gained in a different company - This is due to the nature of the business and the fact that we are not just interns, we take on full time roles meaning we have a lot more pressure but we are all extremely autonomous which is invaluable. I have found the role I am doing extremely challenging at time, but I feel this has been a necessity for me to develop skills I would not have had the chance to develop elsewhere.

As someone who is effectively doing a full time role I was regarded as an equal member of the team at all times. They ensured that my opinion was valued at all times an as I progressed and grew into my role allowed me to advise them on aspects that I had become specialised in over my time at the company.

I have been given guidance throughout entirety of my placement. Due to time constraints and other business needs I have never felt like the focus of my managers attention but I think that has also helped me grow and develop and be much more autonomous rather than being micro managed.

Due to the nature of the company I have never been quiet, and I have certainly never been bored! We are busy every day and we are given new challenges every day, be it from our managers, their managers or from the Head Office in France who control the whole UK operation. it could even be argued that the vast majority of the time it is manic.

I have been given full responsibility for my role. I am responsible not only for my specific role but also for how I spend my time, and we have all been given the opportunity to shadow different people within the company, and if we want to take that opportunity we are responsible for organising it and responsible for ensuring that we have made time to do it.

I am aware that I have developed countless skills over the past year. I am aware of this change as are my family and I think for me that is the main bonus for me in my final year as I feel that the time management and organisational skills I have gained this year will allow me to breeze through my final year. I am going to approach my final year as a work project as I have done this year. I don't have any anxieties about passing my final year now.

Due to starting the organisation at a point of massive change whereby a lot of people were leaving the company it has been strange to see such a large culture change of the past few months. But in general, the atmosphere has been wonderful! Everyone is extremely friendly and whole floors are like one big family at times!

Extremely well organised. The training team have been fantastic for keeping us all on track for our Uni work with reminders and booking us onto training sessions across the year with a fantastic external trainer who has helped us to reflect on what we have learnt at each point in the year and given us guidance on how to improve these skills further.

I have taken this year so far; a personal development course in 3 separate sessions over the year, I have had access and utilised the Rosetta stone French Language course, countless training documents and videos on Excel, and various training methods on dealing with people in the work place. Thanks to the Corporate University that we have access to the possibilities to learn and develop are endless!

I would love to return to the company as a graduate but due to the final decision been down to the Management in France I will not have the opportunity to find out until early next year. The perks that come with working for this organisation as huge, and I love the culture of the people in the head office. I would be delighted to come back in the future!

I do think at times this could have been better. Half of the placement students and graduates spent a lot of time together, we had lots of nights out and trips to different places. However, not everyone always wants to get involved with work colleagues and you cant force them to! I have built great friendships with people I have met through the employee gym and the social society organises some really fun trip and activities such as the 'Pub Quiz' which was one of the highlights of my year on the social side!

Our rent was extremely cheap, living on the north east side of Coventry in a 5 bedroom house (which is beautiful, with an open plan kitchen and fair sized garden) we pay roughly £250 a month each! Coventry can be a good cheap night out but if you fancy going somewhere a bit nicer Leamington and Warwick are only 15 minutes down the road ad again, aren't much more expensive!

The nightlife in Coventry is pretty good, it is a student town so there are a few bars and a couple of night clubs. Kazbah is probably the best one and you can do a night out and go there on £20 easily! If you're willing to travel for a bit better night out then Leamington is only £20 in a taxi and offers much nicer bars and the famous Smack nightclub.

I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do a lot of exciting events outside of work, including a track day for the launch on the new Peugeot 308Gti at Donnington Park and to be part of the lead team at a big advertisement even for the new DS3 at Westfield London where I got to stay over for the night an got a £50 gift voucher for Westfield! Other than this I have also spent the past 6 months loaning a horse which I find time to ride 2-3 times a week and join a weekend tennis club! Being so close to so many towns definitely gives you opportunities you might not otherwise have had.