Department Manager Review

I liked the actual job a lot. It was engaging and kept me occupied for my time at Matalan. However, mentally, it was a struggle as I was constantly feeling like I was wasting my time because a clothes store wasn't aiding my media degree. I kept wondering if I'd wasted my placement opportunity.

I felt like the other three employees in my department appreciated my efforts. But the manager was less than pleasant with me when she found out that the sales of kids clothes had taken a significant dip during my time managing the department. It's fair to say that I didn't feel valued by her.

I was pretty much thrown in at the deep end. I was allocated my department--and that was pretty much all the assistance I got. I did like this, however, because it made me feel like I was achieving something worthwhile.

The workload was perfect. I had work to do but, at the same time, I could also socialize with my the other workers. I never felt like I had taken too much on or that I wasn't stimulating myself--it was a happy medium.

I was allowed to manage a whole department despite not having any business acumen or experience. I felt that the company placed a lot of trust in me, which was pleasing.

I will never use the skills that I acquired during my media and film degree--unless I work my way into the film industry and am allowed to dress the actors. However, I did learn some vital life lessons: how to cope and bond with people in a close environment. Overall though, in academic terms, my placement was a little pointless

I got on really well with the other employees in my department, which made for a fun time at work. We had a laugh and a joke, but we also knew that we were being paid to work. I can't complain about the atmosphere at my store, it was fun and productive.

When I realized that I wasn't going to acquire a placement in the media industry, I applied to the company. They were very quick and helpful in getting back to me, and before I knew it I was going for an interview. The process was easy and painless--which I was thankful for because there was one point during the summer when I didn't even think I'd be going on a work placement.

The didn't invest or train in me as such but they definitely placed a lot of responsibility in me. I wasn't really given any advice on how to run a department, let alone manage a large one. Every month I discussed the progress and targets of the Kids Department with the store manager, but I never received any formal training as to how best to run a department. I wasn't complaining though, I loved the challenge of figuring it out myself.

For students interested in fashion and retail the prospects are great. However, for a media student there's unlikely to be any suitable positions of employment, unless I managed to work my way up to the advertising section of the company.

There was one other placement student working in my store, however she was a mature student so we didn't really have much in common. In fact, we rarely spoke. Amongst my colleagues, the social side was brilliant. I made great friends with the other employees on my department and we often did activities outside of work hours.

Colne isn't famed for its prestige or class and, as such, there was a large number of cheap takeaways and diners to eat at. There was a lot of pubs as well, though not too many bars and clubs that I remember. Property-wise, it was easy to find a cheap and reasonably well-furnished house. There are numerous estate agents on the town's high street who quickly found me a property to live in during my time on placement.

There were lots of pubs but no bars or clubs. For a proper night-out you had to take the train to the next town, Burnley. There are around four student-appropriate clubs in Burnley, which isn't too shabby. You won't have an electric night out there, but you'll most likely manage to enjoy yourself.

As I made a few friends there was loads of social activities that I was invited to--I went ice-skating and go-kart racing nearly every week. But for the other mature work placement student at Matalan, there weren't many opportunities as she didn't make any close associates.