Marketing Assistant Review

I really enjoyed working for 3M. The company has such a large product portfolio that no matter what division the work is undertaken, there is always a new task or responsibility to be taken on. On the topic of responsibility, 3M is excellent at providing opportunities for placement students which makes the year a lot more enjoyable. At no point was I treated as a 'intern', I was given a real role, in the real world, making decisions affecting real people.

Each team has a unique structure. However, every team makes you feel at home. Regardless of how stressed you may feel on any one day, your team are always there to help you relax, I felt valued by my team from the first day when I was told they were 'excited to have me'. A comment that stuck with me for the first few months and one that became significantly more real as I was trusted with more and more activities.

I received a lot of support from my supervisors. Weekly meetings checked on my progress, wellbeing and made sure I knew what I was doing at all points. This was complimented by everyone in my team always making sure I was ok, never patronising, just making sure I was happy with whatever task I was doing. I spent a lot of time with my supervisors and they always encouraged me to do my best. If ever i felt i was struggling with any aspect of my work, they would always make time for me.

This is subjective, for the first few weeks I was very busy training. After this for 1-3 months I had a steady flow of work, I particularly was working on projects so any student undertaking research knows some days feel longer than others when doing such intense research. However, from 3 months+ I was consistently busy without being overwhelmed, the perfect balance and ideal level for a placement student.

Far more than I ever expected. It is incomparable to what I even thought I was going to be involved with. I always imagined my role to be supervisory, I would offer advice and my input but never actually make a decision. This couldn't be further from the truth!! I ended up running projects, managing people, making real business decisions that affected the real world!

The skills gained on placement at 3M are transferable to every aspect of life. In my final year studies I will be more aware of how businesses actually operate, my essays will be stronger and ultimately my knowledge will be essential to compliment with the theory taught. I believe I am in a very strong position academically having completed my placement with 3M. Beyond this, I have a very diverse range of talking points for interviews and think that graduate employers will be interested in my application and want to know more.

Brilliant. Not your stereotypical 'crack the whip and sit at your desk all day'. A very modern approach to business and one that created an enjoyable working atmosphere. I felt very productive at all stages and this was down to the people and the atmosphere of the office. Based in Bracknell, I had a very modern working environment and a very sociable desk space. Sitting in pods with my team I was able to converse freely and interact well not only with my team but other divisions around the office. The open nature of everyone working at 3M means that you feel comfortable asking anyone anything, great for networking!

Extremely well organised. Every structured placement event ran smoothly and was very informative. A lot of thought has gone into the placement scheme and its structure. 3M operates heavily off of student feedback and I think this is what generally makes it such a valuable scheme, 3M have listened well to what the students want and have done everything they can to facilitate this.

There were many opportunities for me to be trained on something new and to attend lunch and learn sessions to inrease my awareness of areas not necessarily just specific to my role. I was put forward for lots of training sessions and provided advice for the sessions that my managers felt were most beneficial for me. Even in the depths of a project, 3M make time for you to go on your training. A very rewarding feeling knowing that 3M has your best personal growth interests at heart.

A lot of employees have been with the company for many years, this is testament to how great the company is. There are many roles within the company that appear to be 'good entry level roles', which is great for any student on placement. The drawback of the scheme would be there is no graduate scheme in place. There isn't necessarily a structure in place to retain placement students however the entry level roles available should definitely still appeal!

A very sociable atmosphere. As placement students we attended a lot of events together both with the company and outside. There is a good social scene around Bracknell and there is ample opportunities to socialise with colleagues and students alike. With colleagues, dinners and parties are a great opportunity to socialise with your team and the wider group. Outside of work, there are social sports that are a great way to meet new people. For students, there are many places ideal to go out and different experiences for the weekend. We had a great year.

This again is subjective. If you are from London it is cheap. If you're from a University such as Newcastle it is comparatively 'expensive'. This depends entirely on an individual, however I would say at no point was I worried about socialising or affording a social activity. Prices are quite reasonable in the area and 100% should not be a reason to detract from this placement opportunity. The nightlife is very cheap in Reading due to the university being there so this makes for a cheap night out and there are sufficient restaurants to cater to all tastes.

Very good, lots of clubs in Reading if this is your scene. Equally, if you prefer pubs then there are many pubs in Bracknell and the surrounding areas that make for a great social night. Pubs are reasonably priced and the food is often good! The nightlife is definitely a good thing!

Loads!!! Lots of sporting activities particularly. 3M does a great job in running sports activities, volunteering work and social clubs. There are lots of opportunities for placement students to get involved. If there isn't something for you or 3M doesn't offer your sport or activity. Try and set it up!! The company is very supportive and encourages students to get involved and take the lead, one student set up Badminton club this year and it became a popular activity around the company so don't be afraid to ask the questions.