Marketing and Research Assistant Review

On reflection I had an enjoyable time at Moore Stephens. I was fortunate to be within a welcoming team who gave me enough independence and responsibility that I found my role challenging however were also supportive and on hand if I had any questions. Tasks were also varied and I feel I gained a well rounded view of a Marketing Assistants' role.

I found the Marketing team to be extremely welcoming from the beginning of my placement. I feel my value to the team was also reflected in the range of tasks I was provided with, which included working on client projects and supporting key campaigns which gave me added responsibilities and exposure within the firm. My value to the team was also affirmed through feedback on projects I'd worked on which made me feel valued within the team.

Support and guidance was readily accessible throughout my placement. This varied from on the job training and external training courses on software relating to my role, to more general support such as on my progress and ways to make the most of my placement year. This was enabled through regular catchup's with my line manager as well as Moore Stephens learning and development team.

I had a consistently high workload while in Marketing. While at times this felt like a drawback, it provided me with the opportunity to learn how to balance my workload, manage expectations and prioritise tasks. This also gave me the experience of working in a fast paced environment with changing priorities, and given the varied nature of marketing, meant I was exposed to a variety of sectors within the firm.

I was given a good level of responsibility within my time in marketing with regular opportunities to prove myself while in my role. I was was provided with dedicated tasks/projects to oversee and had the opportunity to suggest my own improvements throughout the year. However the team were still accessible and provided support where necessary.

While the skills I developed in this role may not be directly applicable to my degree, I believe my time in Marketing helped me develop a range of transferable skills which will benefit me in the future. Namely, these include good time management skills, the ability to prioritise tasks and the ability to work under pressure which will benefit me in my degree studies and beyond.

I found the atmosphere within the firm to be professional yet friendly and welcoming throughout the year. More specifically I found my team to be fun and social which was aided by team lunches and after-work drinks. This was also reflected throughout the wider firm especially at the annual Christmas and summer parties.

Generally I found my work placement to be set up very well. I had a clearly allocated line manager and buddy with whom I had regular catch-ups during my time at Moore Stephens. In addition to this, the systems in place were well defined and I never had any qualms during my placement.

The firm provided opportunities for training that were relevant to my role. These included advanced excel training sessions hosted by external trainers and time management workshops to help me within my role. In addition to this, sessions with my line manager helped me identify areas for development and provided me with targets I could set myself throughout the year.

Future employment prospects within the organisation are very appealing. Especially within accounting, the path of development is clearly defined which provides you with an understanding of how you can see yourself achieving your goals within the firm. Nearing the end of my placement, we were provided with the opportunity to discuss roles within Moore Stephens with a member of the early careers team.

Team lunches, after-work drinks and firm-wide events contributed to the great social scene at Moore Stephens. Throughout the year there were numerous opportunities to bond both as placement students and as members of the wider marketing team. Highlights of the year include the firm christmas and summer party as well as our smaller marketing christmas party.

The cost of living in London is infamous however I found this to be balanced by the variety the city offered. I found living in zone 3 provided reasonably priced, good quality accommodation with fast access to the city. Also with exploring places to socialise at most price points could be found.

I found the nightlife in London to be very good! There were a range of events catering to different tastes throughout the city and with good transport links such as the night-bus/night-tube getting home was never a concern. Also with the range of social hubs throughout the city it meant there were many places to explore.

There were several opportunities to get involved in activities throughout the year. One highlight from this year was taking part in the 5KM Standard Chartered Bank Great City Race, which I ran alongside a few members of the marketing team. Aside from this, we are also encouraged to take a "CSR" day in which we spend a day away from work volunteering.