Careers and Employability – Undergraduate Blog

Working 9 to 5 – My placement experience at PwC

By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

My first interaction with PwC was at a networking evening during semester one in second year at the Diamond. To this day, I still remember smiles on Associates and Managers’ faces when speaking about the firm. ‘They love their job’, I thought. Little did I know, the recruitment team running the event were people I would be working with on placement.

Looking around the room, I was taken aback by students talking to recruiters with a glass of wine in hand! Surely they can’t work for a prestigious company like PwC if their focus is on the free alcohol? So what did I do? My shy self built up the courage to join them, as I was unsure whether to apply for the HR or Marketing role. Turns out it was the best decision to throw myself into networking, as I gained advice on the application process and psychometric tests.

Fast forward a couple of months, my assessment centre was successful! In January 2019, I was made an offer of a 11-month placement in the Student Recruitment team in Birmingham. I was thrilled! All the hours spent writing cover letters and practicing maths questions was worth it. Great, I’m all ready to go and complete my year in industry in September … or maybe not.

It’s a funny time between accepting and starting your placement. My self-consciousness returned and I started doubting my ability. Would I be good enough for a company like PwC? Was I the right person for the role? Fortunately, all these worries were soon gone after my predecessor Sophie took me out for lunch to meet the team. It is a day I will never forget, mainly because I turned up in smart trousers and a blazer whilst everyone wore jeans and trainers! Yes, my manager included.

Needless to say, the team were all friendly, welcoming and supportive throughout. Here are some of my placement highlights:

One Chamberlain Square – or ‘the new, fancy office’ as everyone called it! The pictures below really don’t do it justice but it was such a fresh, quirky place to work.
Support. As the ‘newbie’ it’s comforting having a group of people you can talk to when you want to ask those silly questions!
The PwC culture. This still resonates with me even now. Matt Hammond (Senior Partner) gave everyone a Friday off work to participate in Sports Day! This was great fun as Senior Managers through to Interns were competing over tug of war.
The perks. Staying at the Park Plaza hotel on Westminster Bridge with a king size bed and room service wasn’t a bad way to end the Christmas party!

As fantastic as these were, the most important part is I thoroughly enjoyed my placement year and can’t recommend one enough. The biggest takeaway was learning a 9-5 desk job isn’t for me. This is because I loved moving around, hosting assessment centres in Bristol or attending a careers fair at Nottingham university. Before I left in July, I had the opportunity to speak to graduates across various departments to discover which graduate programme I would be interested in. As my manager was pleased with the impact I had on the team, I’m delighted to be going back in September (COVID permitting) to join the Risk Assurance practice.

Why you should be considering a placement year

By Luke Garrity, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

During your time at University, you will likely have the option of undertaking a placement year, a voluntary year in industry between your second and final year. For the duration of your placement, you are still a student but will be working away from the University, possibly even in another country if you so choose! Don’t worry though, you will still have regular contact and support from the Management School. As you are a student, you do still pay tuition fees however these are massively reduced, however most UK students will still be eligible for a student loan and you will be earning a wage typically between £13,000 and £20,000.

Why should I complete a placement?

Naturally, the chance to earn a wage is very attractive, and will undoubtedly make things easier when you return to Sheffield for your final year. However, there are so many more reasons why completing a placement will benefit you!

Gain experience in the world of work

The job market is more competitive than ever before, and companies are looking for unique candidates who set themselves apart from everybody else. Relatively few students complete a year in industry, so having that experience will contribute to an outstanding CV that really grabs the attention of recruiters. In addition, throughout this year you will gain new transferable skills that you can take into both your final year and future workplaces, such as organising and prioritising tasks. You will also have an advantage when it comes to answering difficult interview questions- you will have lots of stories from your time on placement, providing anecdotal evidence to back up your claims.

Make connections and open new doors

Throughout your work experience you will undoubtedly meet many people in industry. Forming these connections will help you identify new opportunities and learn lots from those more experience than yourself. Furthermore, although there are no guarantees, many students are offered roles with their placement companies before they have graduated. Having the security of a grad job can really ease the pressure of final year and allow you to focus on making the most of your remaining time in Sheffield, both academically and socially.

Explore industries before committing after graduation

It often feels like there is so much pressure for you to know which industry you want to work in and have a comprehensive career plan to match. It is completely normal, however, to be unsure of the type of job you want, and a placement year will help guide you to the correct path. Having genuine experience within a particular industry or job role will help you decide if the job is for you or not. Sometimes, students fall in love with a particular industry, and other times, students can have a positive experience on placement, but know that it is not something they want to be doing after they graduate. For example, my placement was a general management role with a heavy emphasis on sales, I loved my year in industry however I know that a sales role is not for me. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to dip my toe in the water, without having to commit to a full grad scheme!

It supports your Dean’s List Application

Since 2018, the University of Sheffield Management School (SUMS) has awarded select students a place on the Dean’s List. This prestigious award allows students to gain recognition for the impact they have made at University and rounds off the University experience nicely. Recipients are awarded a personal reference from the Dean of the Management School, as well as a plaque and networking opportunities with SUMS alumni. Completing a placement year looks fantastic on your Dean’s List applications, and many previous winners have completed an industrial placement.

Find out more about the Dean’s List here.

Completing a placement is a great opportunity for any student, regardless of their level of work experience, and I would personally recommend it to absolutely everyone. Applying for these roles is competitive, but the Management School’s Employability Hub can help you every step of the way, from CV guidance to interview and assessment centre tips. Make sure you give it serious thought and for everyone applying good luck, you won’t regret it!

My L’Oreal journey so far!

By Sophie Ruston, BA Business Management

My journey started in my second year when I attended an ‘Assertiveness & Self Confidence Skills Session’ on the 14th November ran by L’Oreal at the Student’s Union. It was advertised as an on-campus evening where I was able to get hints and tips on how to tackle their applications. It wasn’t until I turned up that they told us they would be running a mock assessment centre with the chance to be ‘talent spotted’ and fast-tracked to the final stage of their application!

Around a week later I received an email invitation to their final stage assessment centre in London, exactly a month on from the initial event (14th December). I straight away began researching the company, the brands and preparing for the day. 48 hours before, we received an information deck through with lots of information on potential new Kiehl’s skincare products, our job was to prepare a 20 minute presentation on which product to launch, why, and our omni-channel launch plan.

Fast-forward through 2 days of intense planning and presentation preparing which included analysing data from a survey of my Facebook friends, I was at the assessment centre and presenting to the Head of Digital for L’Oréal’s skincare division. Following the presentation, we were split into groups to take part in a group task which built on the Kiehl’s project, and then completed a numerical and literacy test. Next was lunch and a chance to chat to the current interns and ask questions about their experience and what a placement at L’Oreal was like first hand. After lunch, there was a daunting ‘cut’ where they sent home applicants who hadn’t progressed to the afternoon which then consisted of an attention to detail test, a virtual reality meeting scenario and an individual interview with a senior member of staff.

After successfully gaining a place on the placement scheme, I started on the 25th June 2018 as an ‘E-Retail Intern’ in the Active Cosmetics Division. My role consisted of:

Communicating with online retailers to assist with account management and relationship building.
Collating, reporting and analysing sales results, tracking market trends and promotion results
Ensuring all product launches were planned and executed across e-retailers accurately from start to finish
Creating campaign focused assets for website banners, brand pages and social media posts to encourage uplifts in sales, ‘win on the web’ and increase brand awareness.

As much as I got stuck into my day-to-day role, and after an adjustment period, really enjoyed what the job entailed, it was all the other activities I got involved with whilst on placement which made the year so special! I was part of the intern netball team which played weekly matches against other teams around Hammersmith e.g. against the Disney interns. This was a really great chance to meet up with some of the other interns which I didn’t work with, and find out more about their roles in other parts of the business. With over 100 interns across Marketing, Commercial, Finance, Supply and more from 36 brands and 4 divisions, every intern has a totally different role and experience.

Being part of such a large, international company also meant there were occasions where I was able to get involved with corporate events, such as an event at the house of commons, “for Women in Science”, attended by MP’s, Lords and successful business people. This opportunity to represent L’Oréal at such a significant annual event filled me with pride, and also gave me experience networking with individuals outside of the business. I was also involved with charity and corporate social responsibility initiatives within the Head Office, such as selling raffle tickets, working at product sales and volunteering with disadvantaged children in the community.

All in all, my placement year provided me with such a vast array of experiences, I learnt A LOT, developed massively as an individual, but more than anything had such a fantastic time. I enjoyed it so much, that I even stayed at L’Oréal over the summer and completed another internship in a totally separate role, just so I could gain further insight into the business! I have met friends for life, and am back in London at least once a month, I just can’t wait to be back there full time in January 2021 on their Commercial Management Trainee graduate scheme.

Why a placement year is so worth it!

By Sophie Ruston, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

I had always had my sights set on doing a placement year (sometimes referred to as year in industry or sandwich year), however, I know some students are often unconvinced. In my opinion the benefits are never ending, therefore, I have compiled below 5 main reasons why, from my experience, a placement year is SO worth it:

Builds Confidence

The responsibility I was given from day 1 was at times challenging, and there were moments when I wondered what I’d signed up for, but there really is no better way to grow your confidence than through diving in at the deep end. Being immersed into a full time role with no (or very little) experience was at first daunting, but it really pushes you to believe in yourself, get stuck into the job at hand and strive to achieve your goals.

Develops Skills

Granted, university helps you on your path to a great career but your own skills and abilities only grow when you actually put them into practice. There is no better way than to start at the very bottom and learn from some of the brightest and most talented individuals out there. I was lucky enough to have such a brilliant and supportive team but wherever you go and whoever you work with, your own skills will only flourish when they are tested. No lecture can really set you up for the workplace

An opportunity to make mistakes

As an intern, you will be the least experienced person in your business and when you’re learning, mistakes are anticipated. You’re not expected to get everything right first time but you are expected to ask questions; a placement year gives you the opportunity to learn from the things you might mess up first time, but build on them next time around.

Improve your employability

A graduate with a placement year (or relevant experience) is far more favourable to any employer than someone who’s never had a job, with some stipulating a certain amount of experience in a professional role. Everyone knows the graduate market is tough, so gaining experience prior to graduating is one of the best ways you can become more employable.

It’s so much fun!

1 year in a fast-paced environment gives you the chance to discover and develop your skills but also to meet amazing people. It’s unlikely you’ll be the only intern, meaning you’ll meet loads of like-minded individuals but you also get to build a great network of colleagues across your business.

After a placement year, it’s difficult to see why anyone wouldn’t try and do one. If you’re a current student and would like more information or one-to-one mentoring, then make sure you drop into the Employability Hub in the Management School.

Balancing university and part-time work

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Where do I work?

In the summer before I started at the University of Sheffield, I applied for a part-time role at the Students’ Union and was lucky enough to get the role! My role included working in Pearls Bubble Tea and Coffee Revolution in the SU. My experience of working in the SU could not have been better – I wouldrecommend it to anyone, as it means that you meet loads of other students and I made loads of friends in first year this way. It’s also really flexible and they understand that students have other commitments – by having a zero hours contract, you’re able to put in your availability for each week. For example, if you have exams coming up you may only work 6 hours a week, but at a quieter time in the year you could be working up to 16 hours a week.

How do I balance work with my studies?

Doing part-time work at the Students’ Union has definitely taught me how to manage my time effectively. One of the key things you learn is how to prioritise your tasks and understand when your studies need to take priority or when you can be more flexible with your time. Although I sometimes found this hard, I understand now that it is much better to sacrifice a week’s wages during exam period and have enough time to properly do my work, rather than try to squeeze everything in! Having said that, there is a maximum of 16 hours a week that students can work at the Union, so most of the time this isn’t too demanding and fits quite nicely around my work. Also, my hours are typically Monday to Friday so I always have the weekend to catch up on work if I need to and it is only term time so I still get all the same holidays as everyone else!

How does working benefit me?

One of the obvious benefits is that I am getting some extra income whilst being a student, which is always helpful! For me, I really like being independent and paying my own way – it also means I have enough money to enjoy myself the whole year and not have the worry of all my student finance running out after a month! However, there are many other positives to working, such as the experience it has given me. It looks excellent on your CV and I believe it truly helped me to get my placement year at GSK, because I had lots of examples and skills to talk about in my interview.

Finding a graduate job

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

It’s that time of year when graduates are desperately trying to land their dream job – but where do you start? If you’re in this situation, read on – hopefully this information will be useful to you!

Where to find graduate jobs

There is a huge amount of various graduate jobs for you to explore. If you are interested in graduate schemes, I would recommend beginning your job hunt in September/October of your final year at University, as this is when many of the big companies release their applications. However, if you are considering a direct entry role, the recruitment process often doesn’t begin until around Easter of your final year if you want to start working straight after you graduate. My top tip for finding the right graduate scheme for you would be to search online. There are lots of great websites out there such as Target Jobs, Milkround and even LinkedIn, where you can filter your search to a particular location, an industry, or the job itself. Another method for job searching could be to think of companies you are really interested in and check their websites for updates or just send your CV if they accept them! In addition to this, the University holds graduate fairs which give you the opportunity to speak with people from different companies and learn more about the vacancies they have.

Applying for graduate jobs

There is typically a long recruitment process for graduate schemes, but this does vary depending on the company. Often, it includes an online application, online tests, a video/telephone interview and an assessment centre. A key piece advice here would be to not feel disheartened if you get rejections – graduate jobs, in particular graduate schemes, are extremely competitive and it can take a few rejections before you get the right one, so try to stay positive and persevere! One of the most important things you can do whilst applying is research the company, what they are looking for in the job specification, and what they are like as employers. A good place to start is their website, but I have found Glassdoor helpful too to get a better feeling of the company culture. I would recommend building your CV throughout your time at university by getting involved in volunteering, societies, or even part time work as these extra-curricular activities really help you to stand out from other graduates. Furthermore, if you have the opportunity to, I cannot recommend doing a placement year enough as you gain so many invaluable skills and experiences that make answering interview questions much easier!

Finally, don’t forget that the University is there to help you! The Management School has it’s own Employability Hub that is dedicated to helping students find work, which hosts helpful workshops where you can do practice interviews and assessment centres or go through your CV one to one with a careers adviser. Even if you’ve graduated, you can get support up to three years after you leave uni!

The lessons I learned at university

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

When you’re a student you won’t only learn about your chosen subject, but you’ll also plenty of life lessons – here’s my top three takeaways from my time as a student.

Something I learned very quickly was the importance of being organised. This applies to several aspects of student life – from organising lecture notes right the way down to organising your meals for the week. University is unlike sixth form/college where you are given continual guidance from a teacher, instead you have to do a fair bit of independent study. To ensure this is productive and you stay on top of what you have to do, you should always set aside some time every week to organise your lecture notes in a way that suits you and prepare for the upcoming week. Having done this, and soon to be embarking on my own career, it’s a practise I want (and need) to keep up!

Starting university is a nerve-wracking thing, however it is really important to just get stuck in. This brings me to my second lesson – don’t be worried to get involved! When you first start, all the people you meet will be nervous themselves and will sometimes be looking for someone to break the ice… if you follow this lesson – this can be you! Being an active member is important in both a university and workplace setting. I completed a summer internship in my second year, and we were continually required to work alongside colleagues on group projects and presentations. In my first year of university, I tried all sorts of activities which built my confidence in a group setting and allowed me to transition into the working environment with ease.

My final, and arguably most important lesson learned from being a student was the ability to discipline myself. Living away from home, with your friends and in a city is great, but the main reason why you are there is to gain a degree – and to do this you must remain disciplined throughout your studies. Setting time aside to study instead of doing social activities is not always easy, but it is nearly always worth it. In my first year, I took a relaxed approach to my studying, however, during second and third year I really got my head down and prioritised my studies, which is reflected in the grades I achieved. Luckily the university has several libraries where you’ll usually find at least one of your friends. This means that revision breaks can be spent socialising which really does break up the long days in the library! Being disciplined is a trait that can be transferred into the workplace when meeting tight deadlines and completing your designated tasks – and a lesson that helped me achieve the grades that I wanted.

Everyone’s time at university is different, and you’ll learn lots about life, your subject, and yourself along the way. It is important to recognise all of these little lessons and incorporate them into your everyday life, which will equip you with the right skills to continue to progress!

Adjusting back to student life after a placement

By Juliet Norreys, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Undertaking a placement year is an extremely formative period in your university life. Going into my year in industry I was quietly confident in my ability to work as a team, be proactive and manage my time well; all the buzzwords which surround employability and were used in my applications for jobs. Little did I know that my year would completely surpass all expectations of how much I could learn and the extent to which my knowledge was lacking initially in practical workplace skills. The processes that I had taken for granted, such as creating an email that is both appropriate and coherent whilst also being professional and eloquent, was something that I thought I had down to a tee. When arriving at work I quickly learnt how not to write an email and realised how steep of a learning curve it was going to be! With this said, my year was incredible, and the investment in my development was second to none – I learnt more than I ever thought possible and have come out of it with more confidence in my ability to succeed in my graduate role.

Just as I had adjusted to my working life, working 8-6 every day and enjoying the freedom that came with my weekend, it was time to return to Sheffield. Initially, I thought that I would slot seamlessly back into student life; I knew it well and had done it for the 2 years previous. I was faced with a weird feeling of uncertainty; Sheffield itself had stayed the same (apart from the concourse near the Students’ Union finally being finished!), and yet I didn’t feel prepared for switching my ‘academic brain’ back on.

Thankfully, it only took a few days to settle back into my old student life, and I quickly felt like I had never left. The biggest difference I found is the mind-set I have now means that I can’t help but pick apart my modules, reflecting on what I learned on my placement and taking a more analytical/practical stance towards my studies. I am also much more productive with my time; the pattern of working 9 hours a days has become habit, and therefore the days of long lie-ins has ended! With these extra few daylight hours it means that I have more time to give to extracurricular activities, so I have thrown myself back into sport and part-time work. The one piece of advice I would give anyone returning from a year in industry is to create bucket list of all the things you have wanted to experience in Sheffield that you haven’t got around to yet. If you want to try out for a sports team, learn a language, or take part in something fun like Bummit, now is the time to do it! The last year goes incredibly fast and therefore you need to make the most of the time that’s left to enjoy Sheffield and student life in general.

Opportunities for skills development at The University of Sheffield

By Clemvio Hodge, BA Business Management

Many students come to university unsure of what they would like to do after they graduate. I’m a little different, in that I came knowing what I would like to do and the skills I needed to acquire in order to accomplish my goals. However, many of the skills I have sought to obtain are essential, no matter where life takes you, so I thought I’d share exactly the opportunities for skills development I have found through university.

Workshops | Learn anything that interests you

Always keep an eye on your university email so that you do not miss some of the amazing workshops available – especially if they are HEAR accredited. HEAR is your Higher Education Achievement Record which keeps track of your skills development and will also be shown on your university transcript after you graduate.

One of the most impactful workshops that I attended was an 8-week media course with the Corporate Information and Computing Services (CICS) at through the university. There I learned about and developed a passion for videography and photography, and I have been able to loan equipment and use editing software for free at any time during my course. It also looks really good on my HEAR and resume! Another workshop that I attended, and would definitely recommend, was social media training. This was done through the Employability Hub in the Management School, and provided excellent tips on how to use social media to build a professional network.

Online Tutorials via Lynda.com | Develop skills in software and app usage

Your University of Sheffield log-in credentials give you access to Lynda.com (which you would have otherwise had to pay to access). Through short and easy to follow video tutorials, you can learn app development, use accounting software, or simply find out how to use Excel better – the possibilities are endless. It’s definitely worth signing in and seeing what you can learn whilst you have free membership through uni.

I utilised it to further my knowledge in using Premiere Pro for video editing, Photoshop for photos and graphics, Indesign for publication creation, and tutorials on developing a website.

Competitions and Networking Opportunities | Meet people and visit other places

I would advise any student to attempt the University Business Challenge through the University of Sheffield Enterprise (USE). The objective of the challenge is that a team of students would serve as directors for a simulated company and make relevant decisions over the course of several weeks. The success of the business in terms of profits and other metrics would then be compared among over 300 teams from various universities in the UK and, if you rank in the top 10, you get to travel to compete in the finals.

My team was able to make the top 10 and was afforded the opportunity to visit the IBM Client Centre in London. We got to network with other students, interns and managers at IBM and were able to tour the city.

Another great networking opportunity is City Connections. I was lucky enough to return to London and visited four of the top companies there – one being Ernest & Young. We also had the chance to network with UoS Alumni and gained valuable insight into the working world.

From the list of opportunities I have undertaken, I’m sure you can pinpoint my interests – media and business. You can go further and develop skills through sports clubs, employment skills sessions at the Employability Hub, in engineering via iForge… the list is endless!

My Placement Year at GSK!

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Why do a placement year?

One of the best decisions I made during my time at University has been to do a placement year. I decided at the beginning of second year that I really wanted to gain experience in a big global company and build my CV, as it is so important nowadays to have more than just a degree. Looking back, I had the best 12 months at GSK – I gained so many skills and I met lots of new friends who I’m still in touch with now. It was a challenging year and I truly developed on a professional as well as a personal level. Not only this, it was also so much fun as there was lots of opportunities to do extra things, such as volunteering.

Finding a Placement

My heart was set on finding a HR role as I enjoyed this module the most and it really stood out to me as something I could see myself doing. However, there are so many different companies to choose from all across the UK so it is a big decision! Luckily, I received tons of support from the University and I was able to speak to dedicated staff in the Employability Hub, who helped me to finalise my CV and provide really helpful advice in terms of where to look for placements and what I could expect from the recruitment process. Not only this, you can do workshops like practice assessment centres, which I would really recommend! My advice would also be to not be disheartened if you have some rejections… there were a few companies I never heard back from or didn’t get past the first or second stage, but eventually I found the perfect one and used all the help available from the Hub to secure the job!

HR at GSK

GSK is a healthcare company with 3 global businesses: vaccines, pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare. I worked in one of the specialised HR departments in the Head Office in London. This was really exciting moving to a new city, and GSK were great as they put you in contact with all the other placement students in a Facebook group so that you can find people to live with. My role varied as I did project work including Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP), mySkills (an application to assess employee skills) and Global Inclusion and Diversity. Typical day-to-day tasks were developing communication materials; writing emails andcreating help guides and articles. Plus, I had roles in Project Management and was a key point of contact for global colleagues in Inclusion and Diversity. One of my highlights would be presenting the team updates to the CEO of Consumer Healthcare! Overall, I gained so much varied experience and it helped me to work out that I definitely want to go into HR in my future career. This experience has also made me much more confident in securing a graduate job as I now have so many experiences to talk about in an interview!