HR Placement Student Review

My placement was very enjoyable and I particulary enjoyed meeting loads of new people and getting to work in different environments on a variety of tasks.

On the whole, I felt very valued by colleagues and I felt like I was trusted with responsibility to complete tasks. At the start of my placement it can take a couple of months to prove your abilities before you feel valued by colleagues.

I was provided with fantastic support throughout my placement. My manager was very patient and supportive, and put me through extra training courses or expereinces to widen my knolwedge and gain extra exposure within the business. My manager listened to me and supported my development with monthly progress reviews to ensure I was meeting targets and achieving my objectives.

Generally, I was very busy during my placement. There were times of pressure where I felt like I had too much to do at once, however my manager and other team members supported me. There were also quieter times which allowed you to catch up on work, so it changed throughout the year.

I was given more responsibility throughout my placement and I felt like I was trusted to take ownership of my own tasks. Sometimes I had to ask my manager for more responsibility or things to do at the start of my placement, but she soon adjusted to the pace I like to work at and therefore I was gievn the right level of responsibility for me.

My placement has been invaluable and I would recommend anyone to undertake a placement if they have the opportunity too. I have real life case studies from my time on placement to support my final year degree work and also learnt and developed many skills which you cannot learn in a lecture theatre.

I worked in the HR department and everyone was very friendly and helpful.

I was the first placement student that was taken on in the HR department so we learnt as we went on, however overall it was well organsied. There was not a set plan for the placement which meant that it was not ridgid and overly organised, instead I was treated as a 'normal' employee which made me feel well intergated into the company

I received extensive on the job training and a lot of support from my manager and colleagues. However, in terms of official organised training courses, this was sometimes more difficult to receive.

I would be very interested in working for the company after my degree.

There was a great social scene on site with fellow students. During my placement year there were 17 placement students on site in total in a wide range of different departments and the company had organsied a meet and greet session one afternoon for all the students and new graduates so we were able to meet the other students and get to know them. This was great because it meant that you knew different faces from other departments and we therefore went to lunch together and organised socialising events outside of work too. It meant that you also made friends from loads of other Universities who you keep in touch with after the placement. The company also help you to arrange a house with other placement students if you are relocating to Newcastle from elsewhere in the country, this was really useful to some students and meant that you could live with placement students in the same position as you.

Generally low cost of living in the Newcastle and Gateshead area. Lots of things to do outside of work and many University students living in and around the city. Metro made getting to and from work very easy and costs about £300 for a pass for the year.

Very popular nightlife in Newcastle with loads of University students. Lots of bars, clubs and restaurants open every night.

There was limited activities arranged within the department - however we celebrated Christmas, leaving parties and retirements. The students on placement during the year arranged activities outside of work together, however this was not organsied by the company.