Marketing Assistant Review

I really enjoyed my placement at 3M - you are well looked after, in a company that cares about your welfare as well as your development. You are given proper responsibilities from day one and lots of variety in what you can do.

Everyone you work with in 3M treats you like any other colleague, you are not treated differently because you are a student. They value the work you do for them and vice versa.

I had weekly catch-up meetings with my manager when I started and then these changed to fortnightly meetings 1-to-1 later on in my placement - this was a good opportunity to go through any issues I had or challenges I faced and also for my manager to give feedback etc. Regular meetings with the wider team was also useful.

Fluctuated throughout the year - like any job you have busier days and quieter days. But this role had a good balance which meant you are not too stressed out for long periods, and not too bored at times either.

Given full product responsibility for a small product portfolio and given other responsibilities as and when they arose during the year. As the year unravelled, other jobs and tasks were added to your daily responsibilities to keep me on my toes.

Will help me apply real life situations to the theory taught in lectures etc.

Very easy going atmosphere in the office. As it is a very big office in Bracknell, it depends which department you are in as to whether it is quite talkative etc or quiet. But regular events as a whole company were put on in weekends or launches etc which were good.

Considering this is the first year 3M have had placements in a while, it was very well set up and going forth I can see that it will only get better as there are now current placement students to do proper handovers with their effective 'replacement' student, which will help them settle in sooner and be able to ask as many questions etc in an open environment.

Training sessions were specific to placement students and graduates - however these were put on later in our placement - after 6 months, so it would have been more beneficial if these were set up as soon as we started with the company. However there are training sessions readily available for things like presenting, body language etc that you can voluntarily sign up for.

Job opportunities within the company - depends what business you are working in within 3M - but there is lots of opportunities to move role once coming back as a graduate if there is something else you fancy doing.

Regular 3M socials organised by colleagues etc.

Average - around £80 p/w in shared house. Going out is cheaper on student nights but not the cheapest student area to go out in by any means!

Reading is closest place to go out in...average/good nightlife for a town. Close to london via train and also Ascot etc.

Depends what you are interested in - but plently of sports clubs, gyms etc in the area.