Customer Experience and Public Policy Assistant Review

I really enjoyed my placement year, I was actively encouraged to get involved in many areas of the business. Working in two completely different departments can be challenging but the managers coordinate this welll between them. Both departments were great to work with, you are a valuable member of the team.

Both managers really value the work that you do. It is your responsibility to manage your workload and keep to deadlines, they don't check up on you to ensure everything is done. The more you prove yourself early on the more you will be trusted and given work with higher responsibility.

Both my managers gave excellent support through out my placement. I had weekly meetings with both managers and always felt that I could ask any questions whether it was about my work or the business as a whole. At the beginning of the year you are allocated a mentor, This is something that is really helpful as they are there to help gove you advice on how you can improve in your current role and how you can tackle problems. They also give you advice on areas that may be suitable for your future career based on their experience.

As with any job workload varies, personally I believe this role is one of the busier placement roles Vauxhall offer. However, you are trusted to manage your own workload and so how busy you are is partially determined by yourself and how many projects you get involved with. Both Managers are understanding if you need to move deadlines slightly and both will support you through busy periods.

You are given a lot of responsibility with you given the opportunity to run certain projects.

As this placement covers many areas of the business I think it will help with my modules going forward. You do receive quite a lot of generic training i.e excel and presentation. I found these helpful and will take these skills forward in my career.

This role is based in a private office area. It is quiet at times, however everyone gets along and works together well so there is always a positive atmosphere.

The whole placement scheme is organised well, as the scheme has been running for so long it is an easy transition with HR providing a well planned handover schedule.

HR organise generic training for all Undergrads such as Excel and Presentation training which is helpful. Although I never took part in any training courses on my own, my departments invited me to any conferences or training courses they could so that I could gain experience.

I would definitely consider a future career at Vauxhall.

With over 90+ Undergrads all undertaking the placement scheme in the same area, there is always something going on. In terms of the social side I don't think you could ask for more,

Luton is pretty cheap in terms of cost of living, We went to London quite a few times where there is obviously a higher cost of living.

Luton nightlife really isn't great. However, we went to London, Watford and St Albans regularly as they are all easy to get to on the train/taxi. Just a bit further away.

There were quite a few different activities in which you were encouraged to get involved in after work.