HR Coordinator Review

My placement year at Tech Data was good all around. I had the opportunity to meet and work with great people as well as learn a lot in my role. I would highly recommend Tech Data to work at for a placement year as the working atmosphere is very positive and you get a chance to integrate with everyone in the business no matter what department you work in.

I worked within the HR team and they were highly supportive of my learning and development during my placement year. My team made me feel included and valued and I was treated the same as everyone else. I was trusted by my colleagues to complete work tasks but they would always be on hand should I need any help.

I had a great manager whilst working at Tech Data. As he had worked at Tech Data for many years he was a great source of knowledge and was able to help me solve any problems I came across. He supported me when I wanted to take on new projects and helped me when ever I was struggling. Regular 1-1 catch up meant I was able to voice any concerns I was having as well as put forward any new ideas I thought could benefit the business.

As a whole I would say that the level of work varied based on the business demand. There was never a time that I was bored and always opportunities to get involved in new projects. For me the level of work was a good balance as I had the freedom to organise my own day and work load as long as everything got completed.

During my placement year I was given the responsibility to manage and organise all of the work tasks I was given. My role as a HR Coordinator meant that I was responsible for ensuring the smooth running of many processes. I was given the opportunity to take ownership of tasks and have an input on the way things were done.

I feel that I learnt more across my placement year than I had during my first few years of university. This placement was crucial for my learning and has had a positive affect on my studies in final year. I developed my interpersonal skills as well as my IT skills. I was lucky enough to receive training on the SAP system in Barcelona and this new skill will support me in my future career.

The office had a great atmosphere and was very welcoming, You are able to meet everyone across the business including the board members and everyone is friendly and willing to help. Fridays are dress down days so you don't have to dress smart and everyone gives a donation to charity. There was also lots of fun days in the office where we would get free food. There were often raffles to enter and loads of activities to get involved with.

I feel that my role was very much a real role and I was able to get a real insight into what a role in HR will be like when I leave university. I was given a handover period with the previous intern which meant I was able to learn with support during my first few weeks. Tech Data was always supportive of my studies and University visits across my placement year. I would say that because the role's are very much real life, the placement is a learn as you go experience as opposed to a rigid learning programme. For me this was a positive as it gave me the freedom to get what I wanted out of a placement year.

The great thing about Tech Data is that they treat their interns the same as they treat their permanent employees. I received all of the same benefits and opportunities as everyone else in the business. I was encouraged to push my boundaries and get involved in tasks that I might not have wanted to before. There is the opportunity to sign up to a number of courses and learning programmes within Tech Data and my manager was always supportive of this.

Whilst Tech Data does not offer a specific graduate scheme I feel that the roles they offer would be highly valuable to anyone wanting to join. All of the roles that they offer are important to the success of the business and I would 100% go back to work for Tech Data. They have a number of opportunities across the UK and the recruitment team are always willing to help find the right job in the company for you.

Yes the company employed 8 interns the year that I worked there and this was a good network to have at work and outside of work. I lived with a fellow intern as we both relocated to the area. There was also lots of other people in the business who I made friends with across different departments as well as my own.

The cost of living was achievable on the wage we received. My rent was £425 per month in really nice shared 2 bed flat. The cost of socialising I would say is average. I was never worried about money and was able to afford all that I wanted and needed. The company supply a free bus that runs from town to work so If you live in town your cost of travel will be zero.

The nightlife in Basingstoke itself is pretty average, we mostly went to pubs to eat and drink but there are a few bars in town. There are lots of nice pubs to try out and this was especially nice in the hot months. However if you want a bigger night out then Reading is only down the road and has a lot more nightlife to offer.

Yes depending on what you like there is lots that you can get involved in. People across the business were always getting involved in charity swims and runs and always looking for people to join their teams. There is a gym on the business park which you can join. We went on team building days outside of work and arranged general social meals out.