Undergraduate Programme Assistant Review

A really valuable placement year with lots of opportunities to explore different areas of HR, as well as different areas of the business. I really feel I have got the most out of my placement year and I have taken every opportunity available to enhance my own professional development.

Working in the main headquarters (Griffin House) is brilliant because there are approximately 60 other undergraduates and around 10 apprentices, which creates a good atmosphere. I worked closely with all undergraduates as part of my role and got on well with them. My direct colleagues within talent acquisition were really trusting and gave me total responsibility for a lot of projects.

Brilliant support available. I could always ask for guidance when needed, but I still had the opportunity to try out the solutions for myself once I had asked for help.

I was extremely busy and never short of work; however I did feel that my workload was far too high at many points during my placement year, particularly in comparison to other undergraduates in the department or in the building. I found myself working for over 12 hours a day on a number of occasions. Of course, this has been great experience for me in terms of gaining an insight into recruitment and HR, but I did feel that I was physically drained by my workload at times and that I was too busy in comparison to other undergraduates.

I had an incredible amount of responsibility. I handled the recruitment of 70 undergraduates, from screening applications to running telephone interviews to organising assessment centres. I was also responsible for the marketing strategy, which enabled me to work with social media, sites like Rate my Placement, and universities across the country to attend careers fairs and company presentations.

This will be a massive help in my final year of university. I am now confident in a whole range of transferable skills, I have boosted my professionalism a lot, and I have got an invaluable grounding in HR that will really benefit me when it comes to looking for a graduate position. I am so grateful to the team I worked with in HR for their support in helping me to achieve my highest potential.

I worked in a very quiet office. The atmosphere was usually OK but as undergraduates we occasionally found it uncomfortable.

Very well set up. Endless opportunities to get an insight into the business, such as director presentations, plant tours, and we even had a track day at Millbrook. There is also a two week handover period which is spent with the undergraduate you're taking over from, where there is a big social schedule. New undergrads get to stay in halls for that fortnight, and there is something going on every evening, e.g. bowling, ice skating, nights out, department meals.

Lots of training available: -Safe driving -Excel (advanced course available halfway through the year) -Presentation skills -Interviewing (HR specific training) -Workshop on employability skills for graduate applications -Vast range of e-learning available too.

Vauxhall don't tend to take many graduates on due to the volume of undergraduates- however the placement year is referred to as a year-long interview, so if you perform well on your placement year there is a chance you'll be invited back for a graduate assessment centre!

There are around 80 undergraduates in the Bedfordshire area this year, so the social scene is brilliant! There is always someone's birthday, or some kind of party, going on, so weekends are never dull.

I paid £250 a month without bills for a 4 bedroom house share with other undergraduates. Luton is a really cheap place to live, and to go out, generally.

Luton isn't renowned for having the best pubs and clubs but Vauxhall undergrads usually learn to love it! London, Watford, Milton Keynes, Harpenden and St. Albans are also nearby and easily accessible for nights out.

Sports opportunities, e.g. football, rugby, hockey. Aside from that there's the social scene.