Recruitment Consultant Review

The work placement was a highly enjoyable experience. It was Fun and challenging throughout the year, getting more enjoyable with time. The more responsibility and success which comes throughout the year adds to the enjoyment. There is a culture whereby you work hard but also have fun. This includes social events outside of work but also enjoying yourself whilst you are here.

I felt highly valued by my colleagues and was consistently rewarded for success. Felt important to the business as a successful employee not just an intern. You create your own success in this type of job but as long as you work hard you feel like a valued member of a team.

Lots of the job involves learning as you go and getting involved. However support is readily available and you learn from successful colleagues/ managers around you consistently. When you start you are given extensive training and your implementation of this training is monitored by your manager. You always feel like you can ask your manager anything and as long as you try no question is a stupid one.

I was extremely busy on a daily basis. You don't stop from half 8 until 6 but you have fun whilst doing so. As long as you manage your time effectively and make clear daily targets/ commitments you don't feel like you are ever unmanageably busy. However this is not a job for someone who doesn't like working hard!

Lots of responsibility. You are treated as any other employee with complete visibility of your business area. From discussions with other students there isn't a placement year that offers more responsibility. You are responsible for your own desk which means you are responsible for your candidates, clients and ultimately how much money you generate for the business.

In terms of degree studies the skills I have learnt that will be directly transferable would be time management. This will be particularly useful for managing my workload in the final year and I feel will set me apart from non placement students. Beyond this you learn skills for life and I would feel comfortable going for an interview for any business related graduate position. You learn to communicate in a professional way and build relationships which is the essence of working life!

The general atmosphere in the office was healthy and competitive. This reflects the overall competitiveness of the recruitment market. Unless you are ahead of the competition you won't be successful as a recruitment consultant. This is reflected by the fast paced and competitive atmosphere in the office. However it is still a fun and friendly atmosphere to work in.

The overall work placement was well organised. When you start you go through a full induction before beginning your 12 week training programme. Once this is completed you are ultimately responsible for your own success but there is clear targets and support in place. There are promotion opportunities available throughout the internship.

The company invest in you with the training they provide. But as stated you are responsible for your own success. The support is there for you but you need to be proactive and develop yourself. When you look back on the year you realise just how much you have developed from a personal and professional perspective.

Future employment prospects with the organisation are highly appealing. I have been offered a job when I complete my degree. I have enjoyed the job so much I am pretty confident of coming back and picking up where I left off (maybe after some travelling). In all honesty I'm not particularly interested in leaving to go back to uni!

When you start your degree you naturally speak to your fellow interns regularly as you are all in the same position. There have been some organised nights out between fellow students but these were self organised and not by the workplace. I would say that the workplace could do more to create a social scene between interns by running events etc. However everyone gets on fine and normally socialise in the pub after work!

Working in the city of London within the square mile is obviously going to be expensive. I lived at home with parents and commuted in. This meant an expensive train fare but this was covered by a travel loan and paid off from your wages over the year making it manageable. Renting around London is extremely expensive so may be difficult for prospective interns. The bars/ clubs etc are also expensive but it is worth it is arguably the best social scene in the country,

Night life in the City of London is excellent. You will find something to do every night. The best bars and restaurants in the country are all easily accessible. Thursdays are generally the biggest night but you need to be weary of work the next day! In a nutshell the night life in London is huge and you won't be short of things to do.

There were some activities to get involved in outside of work including an upcoming football tournament and boxing classes 3 days a week. However most activities involve going out and drinking. Of course this is great for some people but I feel more could be done to organise events outside of this like team building days, sporting events etc.