my search and applied to a really small company in the healthcare industry. Third time lucky - or it was for me!


Very quickly, I was given lots of responsibility for their marketing, almost complete creative control, which was amazing. I think they could see I felt confident and ready, so they usually just let me get on with it: email campaigns, graphic design, blogs, events, networking, content-writing. I felt like I was expected to have some knowledge, I wasn’t an apprentice anymore, so I wanted to go in and hit the ground running. I feel I did that - but every day was a learning curve.


Being in a small company certainly meant I got to experience all aspects of marketing in a way that I am sure I wouldn’t have done in a bigger company. In fact, I got the full small business experience, even helping pack boxes in the warehouse if there was a rush on! I never felt like an intern, I was always made to feel like a valued member of the team. I think I was also right to pick a different industry for my year out. It gave me insight to marketing to businesses not just consumers, as well as the legal and regulatory issues around the world of medicines and healthcare. It certainly helped me brush up on the clarity and effectiveness of my communication skills!


Although I’d worked before, I still got lots from the year. I was a few years older by then and the organisation was really different from where I’d worked before. Of course, once the pandemic hit, I finished the year working from home, which was tough. I had to induct the person who was taking the placement after me over Teams, which was hard for us both. And I missed just grabbing a coffee with my colleagues.


From a practical point of view, this was a paid placement year, so it meant I had a bit of financial stability. When I’d been doing my Apprenticeship, I was still living at home, so this was the first time I had felt I was in control of my own finances; I felt like an adult, paying rent and my own bills. And, after two years as a ‘poor student’, I felt independent and glad to have the responsibility. I was also able to save quite a lot too, so that helped going back to into my final year. The University of Portsmouth run the placement year as an extra qualification in professional practice. I kept an eportfolio of my experiences, which has been useful to look back on and it means I get an additional qualification too.


Coming back to University for the final year, it seemed like everyone else had had a great placement, too; no one had any horror stories. I think we all came back very focussed. Our conversations now, in group work and seminars,


Make The Future Yours! Issue 2 7


are so much more professional. We had all done really different things, so we’ve brought back what we learnt to our classes and we’re gaining from each other’s experiences. And it feels like we’re all more connected now.


I don’t think experience is ever wasted! It all helps you stand out. When I come to applying to jobs after University, I know it is going to be a big help. I know a couple of people who graduated last year with First Class degrees, but still haven’t got jobs and they didn’t do placements. The year also opened up some opportunities and built my confidence to do a bit of freelance marketing to boost my income and my experience until I finish. If anyone is thinking about their degree options, I would say pick the one with the year out! My placement year has enhanced my degree; seeing what I learnt in action has been so valuable. I think it has also been really good for my personal growth, my confidence, working with others and taking ownership of tasks. I feel a lot more switched on to business now – and ready to graduate!


Fellow marketing student, Tetiana, adds:


"Through all the exciting projects I worked on during my placement, I developed communication, negotiation and project management skills. My role was focused on campaign coordination, data analysis and reporting. I am very grateful to have had the pleasure to learn from and work with amazing people. It was the most rewarding experience of my life - I would definitely recommend students who are considering undertaking a placement to do so. You will not regret it!"


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52