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
As a Knowledge Connections Specialist at Mars Inc. I thoroughly enjoyed my placement. My role gave me great breadth to work globally with functions from Brand PR to Engineering. Mars really care for you as a person. Their is a big focus on your development journey and I feel I've transformed as a individual becoming more collaborative in my working approach and growing in confidence.
I felt I became a very valued member of the team. With a high level of responsibility I was supported in shaping my development journey and delivered projects to senior leaders. My colleagues we're very supportive valuing all the work I did and encouraging me to succeed.
My functional manager gave me a high level of support helping me shape my development journey, identifying my strengths and building on my weaknesses. On a personal and professional level my manager was always there for me and guiding me throughout my placement. As well as your functional manager at Mars you can have buddies and one-to-one mentors from other functions to learn from others wider of your original team.
With a high level of responsibility I was always engaged in projects and delivering on a daily basis. At Mars you shape your day to meet the demands of your clients but it is encouraged to take time out of your daily routine to self-reflect and build your network/visibility in the organization.
I was given a high level of responsibility at Mars. You are able to make an impact to not only your team but the wider organization as well. I was given a variety of projects at all levels and was always encouraged to achieve the next best thing.
I developed a wide variety of skills on my placement from facilitation to self-awareness all of which has had a big impact on my final year. The skills and training I received has also supported me in getting a graduate job and set me apart from other candidates.
The Company
Even though Mars is global FMCG, the office environment still has a family feel. By the time I'd finished placement I knew the majority of the office and was encouraged to network with different functions/segments. Engagement is a big focus at Mars. They run events throughout the year like 'Get Spooky' (Mars office Halloween party) to bring everyone together.
The placement was well organized by P&0 and my function. From induction to finishing I knew exactly what was expected of me and was clear on the mid-year/ final-year assessments.
Even though I was only there for 12 months Mars invested a high amount of capital into training, development and 1-to-1 support. I highly encourage individuals who want to pursue a career in this sector to choose Mars purely for there focus on you as the individual and the amount of learning experiences you will have.
Flexi Time
International Travel
Company Parties/Events
Working from home
There are clear career paths within Mars and a variety of Graduate schemes to apply for. Unfortunately due to me wanting to follow a career path in consultancy there is no current scheme for that but I was encouraged to go for other graduate assessments within Mars
The Culture
The only disadvantage to Mars is that it's based on an industrial estate so the London culture of going for a drink after work doesn't really happen at Mars. However I was placed in a house with 3 other placements students and went out with the other placement students across Mars.
The cost of living was low in Slough. There was a 30 minute train into London where I spent most of my time but the local area wasn't appealing for students so I suggest living nearer London if you get the placement.
There was no nightlife in the immediate area but Windsor (20 minutes drive away) was a good night out. Under the Arches there are about 5 bars/clubs.
Yes, I was involved in the 'Mars In The Community' project which was a volunteering initiative to help skill-set sharing in the local area. I found this really rewarding and had the chance to work with some great people.
Details
Placement (10 Months+)
Management Consulting
London
November 2014