Communications, Media and CR Assistant

My placement has offered me a great insight into working life. Being given responsibility to manage projects and get involved with team decisions. It has been very beneficial to my learning and advancing my capabilities. My placement has allowed me to gain confidence in a professional environment as well as an individual, creating working relationships and progressing in my job role. However, I feel I have had too much autonomy in contrast to the support I have been given in return.

I am in a team of 3, working alongside the communications and media advisor on a daily basis who has shown me a lot of support through patience and time when offering me feedback and explaining company initiatives - making sure I can perform well in my job role. Having the opportunity to produce new content, I have felt my ideas have been valued and taken on board.

I did not receive as much support as I would have liked. However, this was manageable and made up by the fact my other colleague offered me support when needed. Time was spent on me when I asked for it and I was listened to a respected when I did not understand something.

I always had something to do, always working towards a deadline. I had varied tasks which took time to plan and make sure the outcome was successful. Most of my time was taken up by producing internal magazines. However, when I was not focusing on these projects I had to prioritise tasks/ create some to ensure I was managing the workload.

I was given the responsibility to run campaigns, redesign the internal magazine, enhance the companies recognition scheme as well as running office charity events. It was great to have so much responsibility as well as quite stressful at times - but this has helped me learn how to work in pressurised environments and stay professional.

It has offered me professional skills: such as 'real-world’ problems - meeting deadlines and managing time. Leadership and entrepreneurial skills were also developed, having a responsibility, making decisions, and demonstrating high ethical standards. I will be able to further my critical thinking when analysing models and theory at university. I wish I had received more training and support in specific areas.

Friendly atmosphere, helping me feel welcome when I first joined. Everyone is happy to help and can have a conversation on a good level. There is a lot of humour which can really help you feel motivated and happy on the job. Many people have worked in the business for over 10 years, however, all show interest in you.

The assessment and induction day were well organised, giving me confidence I would be well supported throughout my placement year. I was given an induction and job role pack helping me refer to them when I needed questions answered and extra information. Although when I joined my team I was unsure for a while what was expected of me and how to perform tasks the way that was wanted. However, I soon picked this up - helping me use my imitative.

The company invested in me as much as they could - this was given more through their time and patience when training me on specific software and new concepts. Although I did not feel fully supported at times this was made up by having a good colleague who was always willing to help and listen to me.

A graduate scheme is offered but only in specific departments. You have the chance to be sponsored in your last year at university, however, my team is not expanding / unlikely to offer is. I would feel more obliged to work here in the future if the location was more city based.

The social scene was left to our selves to arrange. Placement students worked more within their departments not together on projects. However placement students can get involved in helping run the office tuck shop which helped bring us together. This was another good responsibility to have as it developed my team work skills.

Working in North Yorkshire is cheap, with big named supermarkets in the area as well as independent shops. The shops include a famous fish and chip shop, farm and pie shops. There are a few local pubs as well as a Weatherspoon's making socialising easy on lunch and after work! These are all in walking distance or a 2-5 min car journey.

There is a few nice pubs to eat and drink with 1 night club.

There was a football even once a week. However no other activities I am aware of. other offices took part in more activities!