Management Assistant Review

As with any job there were highs and lows of the placement, but overall I have enjoyed my year at ERAC.

I couldn't have asked for better colleagues than I had at the branch I have been working in for the past year. We have a fantastic working relationship which everyone plays their part in. I have always felt that my opinions were valued by my colleagues and we maintain a high level of respect for each other. Hard work is always appreciated however there is also understanding and support if there are issues affecting work.

I have been fully supported throughout my placement and have excellent working relationships with managers and supervisors. There are many options in many management levels of who to turn to with problems/questions/issues, all of which have endeavored to support me, regardless. The guidance through the placement was good but at times I was 'thrown in the deep end' to find my own way. In ways this was good but at times it felt slightly daunting to go into certain situations completely blind.

Working in one of the larger branches has kept me extremely busy on my placement, along with staffing issues causing us to be working at a maximum level. There has rarely been times where I haven't been able to find something to do but this could also be because I have always asked for more jobs and more opportunities to try to develop myself further. There is little time to get the 'extra' things done for example sometimes my training folder has been put on the back foot for a few weeks from having too many other responsibilities that were more 'urgent' or 'important'.

I have been given multiple responsibilities whilst on placement at ERAC. Whilst progressing through the placement I have found myself faced with more opportunity for responsibility for things within my branch. Despite this if I was unable to carry out tasks or needed support/help, there was always someone on hand to take some pressure off and share the responsibility.

My self confidence has rocketed since working at ERAC and I have so much more confidence in my abilities. Time management has been a skill I have been forced to develop as the change from second year of uni to a full time job was a complete life change, however it has been a much needed change and a skill I will take with me for the rest of my life. Through every job I have ever had I have believed that I worked hard, however nothing has compared to ERAC. I have had the hardest year of my life BUT one of the most enjoyable and the one I have gained the most satisfaction from- knowing that my hard work has made a small but a positive impact on a branch/company that is succeeding is a great feeling. This will help me immensely in my final year of uni as it will give me the motivation to work hard, get good grades and then one day in my career I might not have to work quite as hard. Another area of skill development would be in communication. I have never had problems with communication but learning to communicate with different people, of different ages, and different backgrounds has been a fantastic opportunity which has enabled me to grow a skill I felt I already had.

We have a very fun, jokey atmosphere in branch. Everyone gets on very well and the relationship easily adapts to new people and new characters coming in to work in the branch.

The structure of the placement is good but there is room for improvement. I definitely feel that I have progressed and learnt so much over the year however the structure of it (other than the training sessions at head office) was not necessarily present at all times. At times I have felt like I was just working in the branch with no reward other than being paid and that I wasn't necessarily on a progressive learning scheme.

I was trained and developed a great deal but often it could feel like I was only being trained because someone else was needed to carry out that task, not necessarily for my personal benefit. However, if I asked to be shown something new or trained in something, my managers and supervisors would indefinitely do so.

The prospect of coming back to ERAC in an elevated position (Management Assistant) now I have passed my MQi is appealing as I feel like I could get an Assistant Manager position fairly quickly after returning. However I would be returning to the company in order to get promoted (hopefully) to a position further out of Daily Rental e.g. Marketing/Remarketing/Acquisition as I don't believe I could maintain the lifestyle of working in a Rental branch for an extended period after graduation.

I have had one other placement student in my area, however we have socialized regularly throughout our area with the management and trainees.

My cost of living increased due to moving out of my parents house as I could no longer handle the commute to work. Due to the extent of working I had less time to socialize than I would have hoped but it meant I spent less money I guess!

Good.

We have had a few area nights out and all managed to get up to Derby for the winter party.