Sales Finance Review

I can definitely say that I have enjoyed my placement year. SC Johnson was a great company to do and internship with and the experience that I have gained can only be described as invaluable. A placement year here gives you exposure to different business functions without throwing you in at the deep end which can be incredibly daunting if this is your first '9-5' office job.

The teams here are incredibly lean so work was always much appreciated by other members within the team. Everyone is very welcoming and treats you as if you were any other employee so you do not feel like a temporary member of staff.

I cannot fault the support and guidance given by my manager. We had one-to-one meetings on a weekly basis to discuss my objectives for the year, appraisals and other work related issues. My manager was knowledgable about all the tasks I worked on so it was always very easy to know where to turn when asking for help. I received all the support I needed throughout the year and was constantly provided with suggestions, advice and feedback relating regarding how to get even more out of the year.

My workload varied on a monthly basis. The beginning of the month was always extremly busy due to month end reporting. Rarely did I find that the workload was overwhelming and this was a result of learning to manage my time efficiently.

I feel that I was given a high level of repsonsibility throughout the year. As I have already mentioned, I worked within a lean team so was given jobs that would be completed by a more senior employee in other business. I had set tasks that I was accountable for and had to take full repsonsiblity in ensuring they were completed on time and to a high standard. The work you are given here definitely does not make you feel like an intern.

The placement year has definitely enabled me not only develop exisiting skills but also gain new ones. I have been able to experience different work situations in which these skills were tested. I believe that most of these will be hugely beneficial to me not only in the short run, when I return to univeristy for my final year, but also in the long term for my future career.

The general atmosphere within the office was lively. At times, the office could be a little dead for example when there were customer meetings etc. but there is always someone to talk to and have a laugh with. Everyone is very chatty and the office is a good size so you get to know everyone within the your department very wekk.

The organisation of the placement was good. The first four weeks were dedicated a a handover with the previous intern. Although everything cannot be covered in this short space of time it gives you a good understanding of the main areas of the business and how you will contribute to the company. The handover gives you the opportunity to shadowing and ask question whilst still leanring the ropes. Once my predecessor had left, I felt I was confident in the majoirty of jobs that I had responsibility for and for those I was not too sure about, I was given a detailed handover folder with good process notes.

In the intital six weeks were were given IT training by an external company. The training sessions consisted of practical examples and traning on all the revelant computer programmes. The training course itself is tailored to meet the needs of the interns during the placement year. Throughout the year we were also invited to attend learning courses and workshops. These were on a variety of topics such as well being and health to motivation and tools and techniques to help with work.

Although the company do not currently offer Graduate roles or has a graduate scheme as such, there are defiintiely opportunities to return after your final year at university. Many interns have come back and are now in full time roles both here in the UK and abroad.

Depsite the fact that there are only a small number of interns wokring at SC Johnson you get to know everyon very quickly, especially those who you work with on a daily basis or see regularly. It is easy to go somewhere after work in the local area and there is a good range of activities to do in nearby towns.

As the office is based in the Suburbs of London, I do not think it is too expensive. Prices here will obviously be more expensive if you are not used to Southern prices but I also do not think that they can be described as extortionate. I cannot comment on the cost of living within the area since I was not based in the surrounding areas for the year. The area is reasonably easy to get to by car and by train if you plan to live further out and commute.

Frimley does not have a nightlife as such but surrounding areas such as Camberly and Guildford do. As long as you are willing to travel then there are definitely places to go to have a good time. In addition, it is pretty easy to get to central London from Frimley.

There were weekly sports activites both on and off site offered to all employees for free. The gym is also available for use before and after work. The social commitee arrange numerious social activities throughout the year such as quiz nights, the Christmas party and other site-wide occassions. If you enjoy doing something a bit different to wind down after work then there is plenty of opportunity for all.