Since last June, weve had the pleasure of taking on our first ever Marketing Intern, Leah Miller! As part of learning at work week, we thought wed take the chance to interview her about her experience.
Why did you do a placement year?
I thought a placement year would be an excellent opportunity to gain actual industry experience before I graduate. Obviously, when youre in a classroom, its all very theoretical, but I think its important to understand what working is like and how to put theory into practice. I think its hard enough for graduates to find a job as it is, but even harder if you have no experience, so it makes sense to take a year out.
Explain more about your course?
Most people who decide to do a sandwich degree do the placement year in the third year and go back to university for the fourth year.
Luckily for me, my university offered the opportunity to combine the final year of studying while doing a placement. When I saw this, I thought: great. Its essentially saving me a year of my time and is an opportunity to gain experience in the workplace.
So how did you learn everything (For University)?
Before I started my Placement with Gleeson Recruitment Group, we had block teaching for four weeks, and we learnt 80% of a final year content. Then we were left to do the assignments including a dissertation. In January, I then went back for one last week of teaching. So essentially my whole final year was condensed into the space of 5 weeks!
How have you found it so far?
In all honesty, I underestimated how challenging it would be. As soon as I left school, I worked part-time jobs in addition to full-time education; I remember thinking: surely this cant be too different?
This has been completely different. I really underestimated the challenge of working full time, while completing my final year of university at the same time.
As the year has gone on, Ive gotten used to working 9-5 and then coming home and completing work from 6pm-10pm. I do often feel like the work is never-ending and like Im always trying to finish. Ive been able to keep focused on the bigger picture and think Im quite lucky that I have saved a year of my time by doing a sandwich degree this way.
What advice do you have for anyone whos balancing work and study?
Three of my personal tips.
- Procrastinating isnt something that you can afford to do in this situation. When you get the work, do it straight away. The last thing you want is to be stressing about deadlines when youve got a full-time job to go to!
- But with that being said, you have to find time for yourself. Make sure you still have a social life and go out with your friends and family. If it makes you feel better, then have a day to binge-watch Game of Thrones to give your mind a rest.
- Dont let your sleeping pattern go down the drain, although pulling together your dissertation at 2 am in the morning may seem like a good idea, when you start work at nine its not ideal.
Overall, do you think its been worth it?
Yes definitely I think more students at university should take a year out to do a placement because it puts you in a much better position for when you do graduate. Not only that but if you start working for a specific business function e.g. HR and decide you dont like it, then you have the chance to move on and do something else.
Sound advice here from Leah!
If you are interested in becoming an intern here at Gleeson Recruitment Group or just want to browse the list of roles we are currently recruiting for, please visit our website for further information: https://www.gleeson-rg.com/