Marketing Assistant Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Volkswagen Group working specifically for Skoda. The responsibility I was given was immense and it was great doing something I was passionate about; Digital Marketing. I have learnt so much which can now be applied to my dissertation back at university. Volkswagen Group was great to network and build lasting relationships, not just in your own brand but others aswell around Volkswagen Group.

I felt very valued from my very first day. I was not treated like an undergrad at all and I'd never have dreamed of the responsibility I was given, allowing me to delegate to marketing agencies as to what I thought about certain contents on the website and what tweets I thought would work for Skoda's audience. Feeling valued helped me from stereotyping a "corporate" business as this wasn't the case at all with Volkswagen Group, with people in other brands in Skoda actually ending up coming to me for advice about Digital Marketing

I had weekly 1 to 1's with my Digital Manager where I could discuss any concerns or ideas I had which were dealt with efficiently. I also had monthly 1 to 1's with my line manager to assess my objectives and whether I was near completing these.

I was very busy on a daily basis however it could be argued that this was down to myself wanting to get as much experience as possible and get involved with as many projects as I could. I would say that the great thing about Volkswagen Group is you get out what you put in, therefore if you work hard, you'll have a great year in industry. I got to go to London every Thursday to visit marketing agencies which was a great way to break up the week and experience what it was like to work in London, something I am considering for a graduate scheme.

The responsibility was a great learning platform as I was in a fairly small team in Skoda compared to other brands. This meant that I was directly below the manager, allowing myself to be part of as many corporate experiences as possible and specialising in Digital Marketing.

Before my placement, I understood the theory behind Marketing however struggled to implement this in the working world. Volkswagen Group helped me to provide practical examples to justify the theory ready for my dissertation in 4th year. External skills such as going on Excel and Powerpoint courses have also helped me to enhance my CV and utilise the skills in modules for next year and future jobs to come.

The general atmosphere in the office was great! Unfortunately it was nothing like the US Office as seen on TV however we did get sweets and cakes every Friday and when it was someone's birthday. Having a weekly update from the brand director allowed me to have a better insight into the automotive industry and to experience a brand such as Skoda grow in all aspects of the word.

The HR team at Volkswagen Group were excellent. They were fully prepared for each stage of the placement year and even from the beginning of the assessment centre, they put all the undergrad's up in a hotel and took us out for a meal answering any queries we had about the interview process. It was very efficient and incredibly easy to set up from an undergrad's point of view.

Volkswagen Group invested a year of experience and knowledge in which can be applied not only to the automotive industry but in whatever career I choose. It has allowed me to maintain a website and develop creative content for social media channels. It would be in both interests to go back to Volkswagen on the graduate scheme as you already understand the culture and corporate environment of Volkswagen and work in other brands not just the one you worked in your undergraduate year.

The prospects are incredibly appealing from an interviewers point of view due to the global scale of Volkswagen Group. The graduate scheme is a 2 year course where you will work in 3 different brands, all great for the CV and LinkedIn profile. Networking within Volkswagen is really good to build lasting relationships which can be useful for my future career. There is an opportunity to work abroad for the year too which I wish to take advantage of.

Every undergrad working for Volkswagen Group are all in the same position therefore it is important to meet like minded people and embrace the Milton Keynes area! Theres lots to do whether it be going out for drinks, visiting Xscape or going around the lake. There was a lot of 21st birthday's in my year therefore there is always parties or BBQ's to attend.

In comparison to London, Milton Keynes was relatively priced. Drinks and clubs were expensive however that is apparent throughout all clubs down South. Volkswagen do offer a competitive salary therefore it is important to utilise this money by making new friends and socialising on a daily basis.

Milton Keynes is not renowned for its nightlife as it is not a student area, It is good however for going out for food at a restaurant or going out for drinks at a bar. Although saying this, London is only 30 minutes away at £15 return therefore to have London on your doorstep is great and should be taken advantage of.

As I play a lot of sport, I played football for Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda and regularly played tennis. There are a lot of other societies to take advantage of dependant on what you're interested in. I helped Skoda out at Ride London and Tour of Britain which are cycling events which Skoda sponsor which got me out of the office and allowed me to spread the brand awareness on the Skoda stand!