European Service Operations Support Review

I can honestly say I have had a really great time working for Samsung over the past year. During my time, I was able to get involved with a variety of different projects, meaning I got to experience working with numerous professionals. Having the large cohort of placements and graduates allowed for social events to take place, while also having people to speak to who were learning the same things (systems etc.) at the same time.

From my first day I felt valued by my colleagues. My team was a great support throughout the whole year as they always listened and helped when needed. My team was also great to get me involved in additional projects, so I could learn even more about the team and Samsung as a whole. Overall, my colleagues were no doubt a great support throughout my placement.

My manager was great at providing me with praise, as well as constructive suggestions in areas I did not know much about. I could always speak to my manager, as well as any other managers for that matter and would still be given the support and guidance which I required. Even with this support, I was always given the opportunity to work independently and only ask for help if I needed it.

I always had a steady flow of work and also always had the opportunity to ask for more if I felt I needed more. I can say the amount of work was just right to make sure I truly understood what I was doing, and could therefore make sure I gave as much attention to detail as was required.

During my placement I was given a huge amount of responsibility. I was given projects to work on independently which had to be completed to a high standard. From my first day I was given a project to join and run with as the main point of contact. This allowed me to gain confidence and responsibility very early on, while also allowing me to work on additional projects on the side.

I have gained many invaluable skills during my time at Samsung. Not only have I been able to improve skills I already have, I have gained a considerable amount of new skills due to the various projects I was working on throughout the year. All of these skills will definitely help during final year and in future jobs.

The general atmosphere in my team compared to other areas was slightly quieter. However, this did not mean there was no banter and conversations on a daily basis. Having quieter times was good as it allowed for more concentration and less distractions. But overall, the atmosphere was good as my team are great to work and socialise with.

The placement scheme overall is very well organised. As there are over 40 placements and graduates joining at the same time, there was never a point where we didn’t have something to do. We had various opportunities for training with the cohort, and also got the opportunity to learn about different areas of the business early on.

The company gives a lot of opportunities for personal learning. I was able to complete a Level 3 Excel training course, as well as being given the opportunity to have training days with the placements. In addition, there is also an online system for training, as well as other opportunities you can take throughout the year.

There were quite a few social events over the year which were mainly organised by some of the graduates. Overall, working at Samsung is very social as the Emerging Talent cohort is so large it means there are a lot of people to spend time with. There were also a few times when we went to a nearby Pub after work which was a good opportunity for us to get to know each other.

For me, the cost of living was very cheap as I was fortunate enough to be able to live at home. However, because I know the area it is expensive to live depending where you go. Quite a few placements/grads decided to live in London, while others chose to live closer in places like Woking and Slough. There is a lot more to do further out into London rather than staying in Surrey.

The nightlife in Chertsey is pretty much non-existent. However, as Chertsey is so close to London it means you can go out there and it is not too difficult to get home. As London is slightly more expensive, there are also closer places to go out like Guildford and Kingston.