National Marketing Assistant for PSNE Review

I am currently still on my placement and have been here for three months. The first couple of weeks is very daunting and I felt pretty out of my depth. I soon became comfortable and feel I have learnt probably more in these last few months than the last 2 years of university. I have been giving alot of responsibility and although it isn't easy I'm thriving on it.

It doesn't take long to feel one of the team, I think it is when the Managers and sales guys start to have a laugh with you and don't talk about work type stuff you feel far more at home. I regularly travel into london for meetings with my manager and after not long feel like mates doing a similar job rather than him being a boss who tells me whats to do

I am always given support by either my manager or other managers that I may work with, But what I like about it is they often ask me to do something and then totally leave me to it. Its a scary situation at the begining becasue I didn't like to ask questions and feel like I couldn't do something but it is an atmosphere that allows me to ask, learn and grow my understanding. So when I'm asked similar things again I can just be left to it and complete the task.

I am very busy now. I get about 50-60 emails a day with me sending about the same. the majority of tasks that I do are given through emails, either managers asking me to send them something as they are out on the road or magazine editors asking me to complete writing an editorial. It does get stressfull, but there is a build up from the begining. for the first 2 weeks maybe I was getting relatively bored and being giving not difficult tasks but thing that slowly got me into it. now its a different world. But I really do enjoy it. It does make the day go faster when your busy too.

I don't think I have seen the full picture of how much I am going to be given over the rest of the year. But in the last two weeks I have organised two large corporate events. From accommodations, kit lists, transport, presentations for ASM's people who should go, all from start to finish. So in short I get given alot of responsibility. (my boss is always there to help and checking that everything has been though of but does leave me to my own)

Massively, I had worked before, travelled, experienced alot of things but I never could actually know how such a job in offices and for multi-national corporations was to actually be. the skills I have learnt have stuck in my mind far more than going to lectures, (which to be honest I didn't do all the time) I have more of a vision on what I want to do and the integral working of large companies. This experience has improved my work ethic massively and general business knowledge which I am sure will help in my final year.

My boss has an excellant sense of humour and the atmosphere is very relaxed in terms of what can be done. So alot of the time there is jokes being passed around massive converstations and a very good atmosphere. We all are busy working and have a lot to do but as long as it isn't the end of the month (when everyone is madly trying to hit sales targets) the atmosphere is really good. I would definately say it was fun.

It has been very well organised, from interviews through to everyday running of each person here. There are 15 placement students based here and they helped us find accommodation and gave alot of advice on what we could expect before we started.

I have been given the opportunity to do many training courses which I have taken up, If I ask to do something that may cost money but would be beneficial to me, often I can do it, I have been given a toughbook laptop to work from and everything that I would need to complete my work.

I am not sure what the likelyhood of getting a job with them, I do work with a few people that have previously been students and then offered jobs as soon as they have finished but this doesn't happen to everyone and obviously depends on how much of an impression I would make. I hope that there would be a chance, I would enjoy to work here after graduating.

As there is 15 of us working here and 12 of us live in Reading, We often go out either to pubs or hitting the bars at the weekend. It is impossible to keep a student lifestyle whilst working 38hours a week but that just means living for the weekends. Which often go far to quickly and are followed by a hangover. So basically yes it is awesome!

Its not cheap but not too bad either. rent is always going to be relatively expensive living close distance to london but as we do earn a small wage it covers it and I'm finally out of my overdraft.

It is good nightlife, Reading is a good place to go out and make a fool of yourself, but still not cheap.

I often play footbal at either lunch times or after work. Its a good opportunity to chat to other people through out the company. Often that you wouldn't see. I haven't had many other opportunities, but to be honest i'm so tired after work I can't be bothered to look for them.