Finance Placement Review

I really enjoyed my placement year at TJX. The responsibility I was given and the inclusion I experienced helped me to make the very best of the year. An invaluable experience.

The company as a whole were so welcoming and friendly. Obviously I felt especially valued by my team, whom never made me feel like I was just a placement by giving me opportunities and responsibilities more senior positions would get.

I was really supported throughout my year, the dedicated placement/graduate scheme team were good at organising activities and events as well as ensuring they were there when we needed them. My manager and my team took a lot of time to help and aid me to improve and understand things, as well as pushing me to make the most of the company as a whole.

Although every month is almost structured the same, each month still differed. I always had something to do and if you asked, there was always something you could help with.

I was very fortunate to have been given what I felt was a lot of responsibility, especially as the year progressed and I improved. When I because fully independent and confident in myself and my understanding I had the opportunity to get involved in a lot more and was able to take control or larger projects.

I think that this placement year has given my invaluable skills and training that I wouldn’t have got if I hadn’t completed it. I gained way better computer skills and have never been more confident with excel. I bettered my interpersonal skills and thus, my confidence which has and will help me within my degree and beyond where I am able to communicate with anyone and everyone.

The atmosphere was good, although I have nothing to compare it to I would say it was calm. It was informal but formal at the same time, with open door policies but areas to lock yourself away in and concentrate if desired. The overall atmosphere I would say is very friendly.

The scheme was organised well, the company have a placement/graduate scheme who are there to assist you if need be. Your specific manager is there to help organise you in terms of your specific workload and objectives throughout the year. The HR team put on workshops and ensure you attend which are well organised and it helps you keep connected with other grads and placements in other departments.

I felt that my team invested in my both professionally and personally, pushing me in the right directions and understanding what I wanted to become better. The company did put on workshops as mentioned above to help you grow and maintain your work attitude.

After the placement year, there is an opportunity for them to offer you the placement scheme. This is obviously very appealing because if the year has gone well and you know this is the environment you want to work in. You could get yourself a job after uni and you wouldn’t have to spend the final year of your degree worrying about finding a graduate jobs.

I felt the relationships with the graduates and placements was really good. Most days we would eat lunch together and try to organise things outside of work for most weeks. There was also good emphasis on keeping in touch with those not in the finance department.

I did struggle, Watford is expensive for what it is purely because it’s so close to London. Although food and drink was averagely priced, the jump from university was difficult in terms of both rent and living expenses.

The nightlife was good, there are plenty of bars and pubs and a couple of clubs which do make it feel like you can be a student again.

There are a few clubs you can be a part of or if you didn’t want to, there are plenty of Fridays you can go to the pub and socialise !