Sales and Marketing 12 month Industrial Placement Student Review

Very much so. A fantastic year and has proved invaluable going into my fourth year of study.

Caterpillar has a very fostering culture. People are very willing to take the time to discuss issues you are having, or simply if you want to learn more about what they are doing! People are happy to talk. Just pick up the phone.

My manager was excellent. Upon starting there was no doubt that I was off the pace but through his mentoring and support I was able to provide a real business impact after the first 3 months. Thereafter, I was working independently on new projects that were gaining visibility by General Managers and above.

The work came in waves at times. Working within a Sales and Marketing office there were times when it was me and one other, and others when there were 15/20 people in the office. It was important to keep on top of tasks and use any quieter periods to finish work off as invariably there were tasks after colleagues returned from travel. Keeping the motivation during the quiet times was very important in meeting deadlines!

I was given a significant show technology development project that was used at OTC, Houston (the worlds biggest oil and gas event). This involved bringing together all of the Caterpillar Dealers into one touchscreen to allow customers and interested parties to view the Dealer network and the value it holds. Further, I was involved heavily in a Strategy formation project, mainly involved in Market Research and the construction of presentations for meetings with senior management.

It is clear the year spent at Caterpillar has been advantageous for my final year of studies. The experiences, understanding how to communicate effectively across the globe with colleagues in Singapore, Houston and Brazil, to name a few, and also in the approach that is required in business. I am taking this same approach into my final year and can only thank my managers and all that supported, and guided, me through the year. Caterpillar is a fantastic company and the year spent with them taught me more than I could have imagined.

The office atmosphere was quiet at times but more often good fun. Everyone talked to each other and discussed issues. Everyone takes lunch around the same time as well. A real fostering culture.

As it should be, support when needed.

Caterpillar allowed me to learn and spend time reading to get me up to pace with the industry. I also worked with the local dealer to understand how they function and the relationship they hold with Caterpillar. During the year I was also in attendance of Market forecasting clubs that give an overview of the Oil and Gas industry. These were fantastic to understand the main drivers of the Industry.

Very!

I was the only one in my office, so not really.

Not bad. I was just outside London and my brother works in London so I would often visit him.

NA

Not massively. I played golf with a few workmates but not much beyond that.