This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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The Role
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The Company
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The Culture
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
I was given the opportunity to touch any part of the business I was interested and also given managerial responsibilities straight away.
Everyone respected and treated me like a manager, even from the start.
They were a fantastic team willing to offer support when needed but also gave me the freedom to learn by myself and to make mistakes and move on from there.
Some days were busier than others, especially during peak periods, but it was so easy to fill your time with learning about different areas of the business or doing personal development programmes.
I was given responsibility straight away with knowing what department I was going to manage and who I was going to manage. I was given the responsibility of managing the Christmas Gift Shop which was a great experience.
I have an experience I can relate to in the majority of learning I am taking part in now.
The Company
Due to being in a big store there was always something new happening which needed to be looked into and as placement students we were always allowed involvement.
We had courses running throughout the year which helped develop us as individuals as well as how we performed on the shop floor. There was always a new experience or target for us to get our teeth into.
They spent so much time and money in us, making sure most of the areas of development were touched in one way or another and we could always go to someone if we needed anything extra.
Flexi Time
Financial Bonus
Company Parties/Events
Staff Sales/Staff Shop
Healthcare/Dental
I have been offered a job as a Commercial Manager when I graduate and other opportunities within the business has been opened up for me.
The Culture
There was a group of around 20 who were all placement/graduates and we bonded really well. The courses were a great chance for all of us to meet up and exchange opinions and feelings towards what we had achieved. Also the staff in the stores were very welcoming and we had many social events throughout, set up by the store as well as individual groups.
I was still living with Uni Students as mine was a placement and I was based in Bristol and the cost was relatively ok. Cost is even better with Marks and Spencer regarding food because you receive a discount card so you can eat very well indeed at a good cost!!
I love the nightlife in Bristol. Due to being a student I only went to certain places but going out with everyone from work introduced me to different areas.
Outside of work we had a very social life and I was not just with the managers, it was with everyone throughout the business.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
South West
October 2012