Marketing Executive Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Baxter as a Marketing Executive. My team were really supportive and the company culture on the whole was extremely positive. It is evident they care about retaining and developing young talent.

I felt incredibly valued at Baxter. They were keen to get me involved in projects and they valued my opinion on things. I felt they trusted me with a lot and I was given many responsibilities. I felt like I was an integral part of the team.

There was always some form of support any given time, whether it was from my direct line manager or other members of the team. Someone, somewhere, in the company would always know the answer to any issue I may have had. I felt I was given the appropriate amount of guidance most of the time. Baxter's commitment to retaining and developing young talent meant that they always acted promptly and ensured that their student employees felt supported.

I was fairly busy throughout, which was good. It meant that my manager entrusted me with a lot. However, if I ever struggled, the work load was then re-assessed. I was never left to feel overwhelmed. My manager and the rest of the team would make sure I was involved with most projects, so that I wouldn't feel left out. They also gave me important tasks to complete that would contribute to the project. Overall, they ensured my learning and development was varied.

I was given a lot of responsibility and ownership of many varying projects, in which I played an active role. I assisted in, and/or led on my day-to-day tasks, as well as contributing to/taking ownership of things in a group project. A few examples of what I was responsible for were: organizing events and liaising with organizers, handling company marketing materials, overseeing marketing spends/budget, etc. etc.

I believe the skills I developed during my time at Baxter will assist in my future career to no end. I learnt how to effectively optimize my time management, interpersonal skills, and overall organization. I also experienced, first hand, the workplace environment and learnt how to properly communicate in a professional setting. Balancing my work-load and how to prioritize certain tasks is also a skill I have developed. Taking ownership of my work and committing to the task until it's completion is a habit I've made an point to implement.

The atmosphere around the office was always positive; the company culture had a lot to do with this, and the people were generally very friendly and welcoming. The social committee ensured there was always some sort of fun activity that would promote socializing with colleagues you wouldn't ordinarily. A few examples of social activities during my time there were: afternoon tea, sports day, Easter egg hunt, Valentine's Day activities, mini crazy golf, Christmas party lunch, etc. etc. In these activities, members of Senior Management would also partake. This kind of involvement from senior staff encouraged a collaborative approach and attitude amongst the office. It promoted inclusivity and made the activities even more fun, especially if you were competing against the General Manager for instance.

It was fairly well organized. The team, my line manager and HR worked hard to ensure I was, a) comfortable, b) supported and c) knew what I was doing. My manager would schedule regular check-in meetings to assess my progress and see how I was getting on. HR would also conduct their checks to see if everything was going well, too. My job role was clearly stated and I feel that what I did over my placement year was very much in-line with that. All of my training for the role was pre-planned and scheduled in a way to ensure I was fully prepared for my role. My manager would make sure I was briefed about my different roles and responsibilities, and would help prepare me. I don't think my placement would have been as good if it wasn't properly planned out by the company.

The extent to which the company invested in me is very high. Training is an integral part of the role, as many systems we use require a certain level of competency. The company were committed to ensuring we were up-to-speed on everything we needed to know. Baxter's commitment to retaining and developing young talent is paramount. It's clear that Baxter care about securing the future of their company. They welcome their employees to partake in various activities and they encourage them to visit all the different sites so they can learn more about the company as a whole. I certainly felt like Baxter genuinely cared about both my professional and personal development.

They are extremely appealing! I have been offered the Graduate Scheme rotation. In this role, I will experience four 6-month rotations in different areas of the business. I will be responsible for larger projects and will get an insight into how a corporate business is run at a higher level. The 2-year scheme will not only equip me with the skills for business, but will also train and develop me to move into a permanent role within Baxter's many business areas.

Unfortunately there wasn't much of a social scene, and this is mainly due to the location of Baxter. Being in a small village meant that any form of socializing outside of the job was restricted to the pub down the road. However, for students that lived in nearby cities/towns - then meeting up and socializing would have been easier as there was more to do.

Personally, I felt that the cost of living was fairly cheap. In the village there are many places to lodge with a live-in landlord/lady - which is what I opted for. This meant that my commute wasn't long, as I was only a 2 min walk away from the office. My rent was cheap, and I wasn't using my car as much - so overall, really good! However, I know that my colleagues renting in nearby Reading or Newbury were hit with much higher rent charges. As previously mentioned - socializing, for me, didn't amount to that much.

Completely non-existent. However this is due to the location I chose to live in - the village. However, if I stayed in Reading or Newbury, I would have had access to a much more varied nightlife.

Yes - there was a local parish that would run gym classes and other activities. The surrounding area leant itself quite nicely to long walks and runs. There was also a lot of volunteering opportunities, which I know the locals would partake in.