Communications Assistant Review

The best thing about working here is that I feel like I have a voice. The great thing is that it's an open-door environment and even the directors and leadership team had time for me.

I was very nervous when I started my placement but everyone was really friendly and within a week I felt very at home.

I think initially I had a lot of support and monthly progress meetings with my line manager and HR. As my placement progressed and my skills developed this slowed as I didn't need that level of support anymore, however, throughout my entire year at William Jackson Food Group my line manager and those I worked closely with always offered me guidance.

My level of busy fluctuated throughout the year - I'd have busy periods and then things would slow down. When things were busy there was a lot of support around particularly that of my line manager.

I cannot even begin to explain how useful what I've learnt this year will be to my final year of study and thereafter. After this year in industry it's so easy to see how the theory in my degree relates to the business world and the skills I've developed and picked up will be so useful when it comes to applying for graduate roles.

As my placement was at Head Office it meant that a lot of the people based there (such as directors) were often out of the office doing business elsewhere which meant that the office was sometimes very quiet.

I think my placement could have been organised a little better as, with he exception of a few planned projects, my year was very 'let's see what comes up'. Luckily for me a lot of fun and relevant tasks popped up. However, I'm sure it's a learning curve and the company is very keen to learn from previous students.

My placement happened to be in the area that I go to University in so I was very aware of the cost of living and socialising. I live in a student house so the cost was fairly standard and I still got to take advantage of the student nights out.