Marketing Placement Review

My role changes dependent on which channel I'm currently working on. However my role requires me to engage with multiple teams across the business including e-commerce and buying. I work on the creative planning and execution of marketing campaigns whether it be planning and briefing emails and social media content or ranking keywords for our site. My role covers all bases including SEO, Social Media, PR, ATL and Campaign Planning all across a 12 month period.

I have learnt many skills relating to marketing including planning emails as well as planning trade events and value campaigns. As well as this I have learnt how to brief projects into other teams across the business. I have also learnt many personal skills including working as a team, presentation skills and time management. I have built many new working relationships with stakeholders both external and internal and have often been required to lease between the two to ensure clear communication.

Yes, I have been given a huge amount of responsibility by Matalan. I am valued as a team member and I'm given many projects and tasks to work on in the same way that my peers do. I have been given the opportunity to train new members of staff on tasks that I feel confident in and have also been able to manage projects and campaigns independently whilst also creating reporting decks in which I set up and share with the wider team.

I have received and continue to receive a high level of support from my line manager who has regular check ins with me to ensure I feel comfortable in each channel that I'm working on. I have to complete a SWOT analysis every six weeks to keep track on how I feel my time is being spent. My manager also continually checks in to ensure I'm on track in terms of my personal development.

There is a high level of togetherness across the team due to the amount of cross over each channel has with one another. Due to working so closely together I feel that the atmosphere around the office is very positive and helps to motivate me and others. The office environment is very social and we have regular team building sessions and part take in many out of work activities making it a highly encouraging environment to work in.

I have enjoyed my time at Matalan thus far thoroughly and would recommend anyone to do it, particularly if they're unsure in their career direction in the way I initially was. The structure of the placement has been perfect in allowing me to gain so much experience across all areas of Marketing and has helped me to have some clarity in which areas I enjoy the most and equally perform best in, therefore helping me to have a clearer vision of what the future holds.

Yes

If you're looking to gain marketing experience and build your knowledge of the different marketing channels that a large, national company like Matalan has, I'd definitely recommend this placement. In addition to this, the personal skills you are able to build when doing this placement make it invaluable. To succeed in the interview process, be sure to allow your personality come across and show your enthusiasm for the role, equally ensure you educate yourself on the role and company.