Campaign Development Undergraduate Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year at Volkswagen Financial Services! I have had the most incredible team to guide me, and I have been encouraged to immersed myself into endless opportunities across multiple departments in the company. I have shared my placement year with a fantastic cohort and it's been incredibly rewarding to see how we have all developed both personally and professionally.

Initially when I started my placement the undergraduate who was in the role before me told me that colleagues from around the business came to them as they were the "expert" in select areas. This seemed baffling to me that an undergraduate would have that much responsibility but it's true! Even though you're an undergraduate you're treated like a permanent member of the team and are valued as a team member and as an individual. Your colleagues want to hear your suggests and opinions and they value what you have to say!

During my placement year I have been fortunate enough to have the support and guidance from three managers, with additional support from a undergraduate champion available. Each manager pushed me to develop as many skills as possible, and encouraged my development if I expressed interest in an area. Support has always on hand if I ever felt out of my depth and each month 'one-to-one' meetings are scheduled with your managers to reflect on your performance and set any targets on something you would like to achieve whilst on placement.

During placement I believe I had a really good 'busyness' balance. Within my team there are "peaks" and "troughs" in activity throughout the year. The "peaks" are fast paced but if you remain calm under pressure they're definitely manageable. Even during the team "troughs" you're never twiddling your thumbs for things to do! In my role even though I was primarily based with one team I was spread across three teams in the department. If that wasn't enough there are additional areas and projects you can get involved in around the business, such as job overviews and charity initiatives.

I was given a lot of responsibility whilst I was on placement. You're treated as a permanent member of the team and you are responsible for your own actions, tasks and deadlines. That being said, don't be scared off! Despite your managers treating you equally to your colleagues they are still aware that you are here to learn and if you do make mistakes they support you through them and help you learn from them. They know what they're doing and they won't give you anything that they don't think you can handle!

I have acquired and developed a range of skills since being on placement. At VWFS there are monthly courses, I have listed a few below. - Excel training - Powerful presentations - Strength based assessments - Making a strong LinkedIn and CV - Personal Development Plans These are all skills that you will continue to develop and use in your University studies and beyond that. When I began my placement I though that I was good at excel. In reflection that was a bold statement as my colleagues had excel skills far superior to mine. However, during my placement I have definitely increased my excel knowledge and capability. The best advice I can give to any undergraduate is that everyone at VWFS has all the time in the world for someone who wants to learn. So if you see a colleague with a skill that you would like to learn - just ask!

The office is very bright and open planned which allows for a positive atmosphere to travel throughout the office. There are refreshment hubs in each office and you are encouraged to have small breaks throughout the day to keep your mind fresh. The work environment is fairly social, but VWFS understand that people work best in different environments so quiet booths are also available. Personally I have had an incredibly social team (which suits me really well!) and there is always a positive atmosphere in the team.

My placement at VWFS has been really well organised. When I began my placement there was a handover period with the previous undergraduate in role. I also reviewed my targets for the year and began forming a development plan with my manager. Monthly courses/activities are also scheduled and organised to suit the cohort as best as possible.

I think VWFS has invested in all the undergraduates. Whilst providing the undergraduates with equal opportunities, you are also encouraged to make your own opportunities. It's drilled into you early on that if there is an experience you would like to be involved in, express that interest - that worst that happens if you're told no! (which rarely happens!). During my placement I suggested bringing a charity initiation to the company and this was encouraged by members around the business and put into place. You are also encouraged to get overviews of job roles that you are interested in. Your employees understand that the role you have as an undergraduate may not be your 'dream' job, but they encourage you to explore the business in case you find the 'dream' job!

VWFS offers incredibly appealing future employment prospects. In my team alone I have seen 4 promotions within the space of a year. WVFS invest in their employees to help them gain the skills to get to where they want to be. The sister company Volkswagen Group (VWG) offers similar opportunities as well as Postgraduate placements.

There was a fantastic social scene whilst on placement. Many of the undergraduates relocated to Milton Keynes for the year and lived in flats/house in small groups. This environment definitely made the placement transition easier as it's the perfect blend of university and work life. Social events were regular occurrences throughout the placement, it was the perfect "work hard, play hard" mix.

The living costs in Milton Keynes were rather reasonable and in line with student houses prices. I think I have had a much nicer apartment in Milton Keynes for the same price as University as landlords see you as working professionals, not as students. The cost of socialising is more expensive that up-North, but still reasonable, and there's always a 2-4-1 deal somewhere!

Your view of the nightlife in Milton Keynes definitely depends on what you enjoy on a night out. If you enjoy clubbing, Milton Keynes doesn't have too much to offer you. However, if you enjoy pubs and cocktails then you will love it! There's always a 2-4-1 deal somewhere. There's plenty of activities to do in Milton Keynes too!

Outside of work my team began a 'running club'. This was initiated as VWFS was due to take part in the Wolf Run and we wanted to ensure that we were ready to it! Outside of work there are plenty of activities to do. There's a snow dome (with real snow), plenty of walks, indoor skydiving, cinemas and lots of bars and restaurants. At VWFS you also get a discounted gym membership for a local gym.