Supply Chain and Logistics Industrial Placement Student Review

My work placement was thoroughly enjoyable. I learnt so much and gained invaluable first hand warehouse and transport experience in a busy and fast moving environment. My managers and colleagues were great to work with and made a lot of friends. Outside the day to day role I also had a really good relationship with the other placement students we were a tight knit group that worked really well on charity projects together even if we were working at different sites around the UK.

I felt extremely valued. When your manager wants you to succeed and you are able to do a good job they give you more opportunities, whether it attend a senior profile meeting or being involved in a different project or help out with interviews for new associates, Even now 12 months on I still update my old manager on my career developments and he acts as a mentor in my career path. My team of colleagues that I managed also valued me, when my contract was coming up a lot of them didn't want me to go as I was helping them and became their friend.

I attended regular 1-2-1's with my line manager and reviewing my progress and writing development plans was very important part of the placement process. They gave me different and unique opportunities that you wouldn't of had if I joined the business as a normal associate. As a placement student you are given so many opportunities to progress. Still in contact with my old line manager for extra support 12 months on.

Each day varied as normal in warehouse operations and on shift work. But normally running round like mad at the end of shift but always time for a coffee. Benefit though, I could go home and switch off, I never brought work home. My day to day role was busy and as a placement student you have extra work such as charity project day that you have to organize alongside your normal roll, it can be tough but time management is learnt.

I asked for more responsibility and more opportunities and was put in charge of a small department. This was ideal to get experience of managing a team, a warehouse operation, meeting deadlines and running the day to day issues that brings. Once I had proved myself I was put in deputy charge of the main operation. You can be as involved as you like, it is up to you if you don't want to be the main person running the operation or if you want to be more project or CI based.

The content of placement didn't assitt me in passing the content of my degree. But the skills you gain being independent, earning your own money, working full time and managing that lifestyle is invaluable. Even meeting completely different people a lot older and more senior than you, or from completely different backgrounds, it opens your eyes to the world when you are in your early 20's. When I went back to university for my final year I was so much more grown up and the work ethic came to me a lot easier than it did in 1st and 2nd year.

General atmosphere was a good laugh. Everyone is there to work but you see everyone day in day out so naturally you get along with people and have a laugh with them. It was quite a joy to go to work I never felt like people were being unkind or pushed me away. Everyone was very welcoming and helped me to progress and learn about the operation and the business. I worked with different people and that is a good skill to earn when you can adapt to different peoples way of working.

The placement scheme is very well run and organized with set training days throughout the year and projects to complete. When I arrived on site it can be tricky as everyone is busy not everyone has time to show you things and you can feel a bit like a fish out of water in a new environment. Everyones placement is different but its normally very well run and organized and y our line managers know that they are expecting you and you go for an induction day before you start and they know that you have to be off site a few days in the year to attend meetings / training.

I felt like I had a lot of training. As a placement student they tend to send you on all sorts of different training on site because they know you are there to develop. I attended alcohol and drugs awareness in the workplace conferences / supply chain training / interview training / transport training. And then I had management and DHL training centrally which was really insightful. The company has so many opportunities and its there for you to ask and to schedule, they will not always offer so its best to ask and normally the answer is YES!

After 12 months on a placement my manager submitted a review and recommendation to the graduate team, I then was offered a permanent position in the business on the graduate scheme. Currently working for them. If you do well in your year you can get a permanent contract with them so employment prospects are HUGE. Even if your placement wasn't quite what you had in mind for your career the business offer so many varied roles from marketing> manufacturing > transport > planning > finance > global freight that you can go into anything you want too.

Yes we had events scheduled throughout the year and we normally went out for dinner and things which was really nice to see what other people we getting up to in their placement. There is also a Christmas night out organized and most people attend that somewhere central. As for on site I had a few friends and we socialized outside of work, I met people I would never of thought would be good friends with but it all worked out and it was really good fun. You want to fell comfortable at work and it helps when there are good people around you that know a bit about you to socializing is a bit part of that and I was lucky that I had that.

Cost of living was very small where I worked. I was lucky that I worked near my parents house so I lived at home and saved money and commuted. But rent and socializing is cheap there anyway. The buddy system set up by the placement team puts you with someone whos previously worked in that area so you are able to take advise on where the best place to live and go out is which is a big help for budgets. The pay itself is very good for a placement scheme and much better than student life!

Nightlife was quite good. There were a few towns locally so either one was a good place to go. Bars and restaurants are in abundance and good transport links if you wanted to get home. I was in the north of England near Durham so within 2 hours I'd be in London or Edinburgh it was great. Any google search or chat with a new colleague and you'll find the best places to go out. You get enough holidays too if you wanted to go out somewhere else you could book off for a long weekend easily.

I was lucky that I lived near home so didn't have to organize too much to keep busy, but If I did live away from home there was plenty to do. Normally placements are based in or around towns so gyms/ walks / shopping / Christmas things are all accessible. And transport links to big cities for shopping and adventure parks were good too. I normally chilled out on a weekend as your tired from the week or busy seeing friends.