Marketing Assistant Review

My placement year at ProspectSoft has been fantastic. Not only are the staff really supportive, but the amount of responsibility I was given meant I was challenged in a really positive way to achieve my full potential. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and feel really lucky to have worked at such a great company,

ProspectSoft is known for its family feel, and this was something I most definitely experienced whilst on my placement year. You're seen as a trusted, valued member of staff, and your ideas and opinions are taken into account just as much as existing employees. The placement scheme is embedded into ProspectSoft's culture, so employing placements each year and valuing their efforts and ideas is simply part of who ProspectSoft are as a company.

ProspectSoft have a great approach when it comes to support and guidance. They are there to help you as and when you need it. My managers and supervisors didn't hold me back from doing something I wanted to get involved in, and never inhibited my growth. Instead, they just supported me if I needed it, and motivated me to achieve the best I could. This is something I think is vital to have when you're on placement, and I was lucky enough to experience that.

I always had something to get on with at ProspectSoft - whether it be a small task or big project, I was always able to occupy myself on a daily basis. Although I was involved in many day to day tasks as all placements at ProspectSoft are, I was able to get involved in a variety of projects which changed on a weekly/monthly basis.

It's fair to say I was given lots of responsibility on placement, and I think that working in a small to medium sized organisation meant this was possible. But I also actively sought tasks and projects that I wanted to do, and ProspectSoft fully supported me and allowed me to just run with it. Whether it was ideas for the placement or corporate website, taking a role in organising and running an event or seeing customers on site and conducting live Webinars, I was able to take full responsibility where I felt comfortable and was praised for my efforts from Director level.

I am very confident that the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours I developed whilst at ProspectSoft will be invaluable to my final year at University and in my future career. The range of skills I have acquired have meant I have been able to experience different situations in areas that I am really interested to explore further in my future career. Not only this, but I feel the quality of my work at University in my final year will significantly improve as a result of this year in industry.

The office has a great feel about it - it has a fun atmosphere, but people are aware of when others are extra busy and respect that. It's been great in the Sales and Marketing office, as I was able to integrate with other placements, past placements, existing employees, my Head of department and my Director. I feel I have made some friends for life at ProspectSoft, and really enjoyed working with such a supportive, friendly team.

Despite the fact that ProspectSoft are a small business, they have a very well organised process in place for the scheme, and continue to review and refine it year on year. The process from start to finish is pretty seamless, and they never get complacent about the scheme. ProspectSoft always strive for more, and this is evidenced by the recognition and accolades they receive regularly from Rate My Placement.

Training for placements is something ProspectSoft really focus on, and I found this to be a key differentiating factor between ProspectSoft and other employers. Each year, ProspectSoft invest heavily in recruiting, training and developing placements and see over half of placements return as full time employees. I personally think this a credit to ProspectSoft, and indicates how hard they have worked to develop the scheme over the years. Not only this, but they are more than willing for you to go to exhibitions and events or complete training courses online if you wish to develop any knowledge or skills.

As previously mentioned, over half of placements return to work at ProspectSoft once they've graduated. With regular appraisals, you're able to express your interest and they will definitely keep in touch with you whilst you're back at University.

Everyone was up for a good night out or works do, placements and Directors alike! Us placements have become good friends, and so nights out, shopping trips and weekends together were lots of fun. There were 5 Sales and Marketing placements and 4 Technical placements this year, so there were plenty of us to arrange things amongst ourselves.

Generally, the cost of living and socialising was pretty reasonable, but when we went into Oxford or London it got a little more pricey. However, around Stokenchurch and High Wycombe it was just right! I commuted from where I live at home (Buckingham), so didn't experience the rent first hand - just what my mother charged me!

Stokenchurch is a small village, located just off the M40, meaning it has good transport links to Oxford and London. There is a new Tesco (which has been great for lunches!) and a pub just a minute walk away too. For me, this was ideal for a working environment and the links to Oxford were great for socials. As a few of us lived at home and commuted in, we got to experience each other's home towns too (Milton Keynes and Reading in particular!).

As we had a great placement network at ProspectSoft, we were able to organise our own nights out and socials. But there were also opportunities to get involved in other sport activities and go along to any work nights out which were always fun!