HR Services Administrator Review

I enjoyed my placement very much. It was a great start to my career and gave me the foundation necessary for success working in a competitive and innovative organisation. I did languages at university and the fact that I was working within an international organisation, with people from across the globe, made each day very interesting and useful for my development.

Thanks to constant meetings and catch-ups, I felt a valued part of the team. There was a good amount of trust and responsibility placed on my shoulders from the outset, which wouldn't have happened if they didn't feel that I was a valued member of the team. Outside of work, I was also invited to many team-building activities including training and social events.

There was constant guidance and support available, but it was encouraged that I take initiative and have the confidence to guide the project myself and back my decisions along the way. Any time that I did not understand something, I was always able to reach out to a colleague for help/guidance and that wasn't necessarily restricted to my office. For instance, over the 6 months I was there, I received help via, email and VC from employees in different countries, for example, Spain, Hungary, India and New Zealand!

I was very busy. I had to manage my time effectively and in an organised fashion, given the many different aspects of the role. I had daily calls with markets, in-house meetings, analysis reports and business case presentations to be working on, so I was rarely left with nothing to do. I enjoyed this, as I felt engaged with my work and that I was making a real difference to the business.

I received a lot of responsibility early on, as I took on a project from only week 2. I was given the opportunity to steer it in the direction I thought best, therefore, by demonstrating initiative. I felt like I learned a lot about the business, my colleagues and our customers in a very short space of time, thanks to the pace at which the business moves. I developed various skills throughout, thanks to the varied tasks of my placement, which gave me the confidence to engage well with my team and peers on a daily basis.

The skills I developed, such as stakeholder management, business communication, and project management, to name a few, have assisted me well in my career so far. The skills have allowed me to make a great impression in my new role, thanks to having the confidence to jump in with both feet. I also now know what to look for in a future role, and have the knowledge and experience of how to grasp those sorts of opportunities when they arise.

It was hard-working and relaxed. Professional. People work hard, but it's possible to approach colleagues in the office if you need help, or unsure of something. The office itself is based in Paddington and is surrounded by lots of cafes and lunch spots, so this breeds a buzzing atmosphere in and around the office space.

The organisation at the start could have been better. There was a slight issue with on-boarding that delayed my start date, but once that issue was resolved, the placement was great. Goals and objectives were set once I had grasped the purpose of the role and were continuously looked at with my line manager and colleagues, during my time at Vodafone.

There was more focus towards on the job development and training, instead of classroom-style learning situations. At first, I was a little unsure with this approach, but in the long run, it actually worked out better for me, given that I had no choice but to engage myself and with the team in role.

Very good. I'm now working in the Discover Graduate scheme at my organisation, so my placement has been a great foundation for me to excel and achieve success in the company. On my first day in my new role, I knew what to expect, understood the company and its mission, and had a few contacts in my network to reach out to, if necessary. It definitely took away some of the first day jitters.

This was an aspect that I feel could have been more apparent. There were opportunities to go for drinks after work, but not too often. Hopefully, in the future, this is something that is actively encouraged. Don't get me wrong, I had nice lunches, dinners and drinks with colleagues, I just think culturally, within the organisation, it's not something that is pushed at this point.

The cost of living and socialising in London is very high. There are plenty of opportunities to go out and enjoy everything that the capital has to offer, but with that said, it can be quite difficult to save money. Rent is also notoriously high, so the best way to enjoy London at a reasonable price is to house share. This brings monthly rent payments down, in comparison to living on your own, and leaves more money for activities outside of work.

London is great for nightlife. No matter where you go in the city, there will always be something to do. The office where I worked is based in West London, so it is more bars and restaurants than clubs, but there is still a lot of choice. Depending on what you interests you, defines whereabouts in London you will enjoy the most. North, South, East and West all have their own sense of charm, so deciding where to go at the start of the night can be the most difficult aspect.