This year we decided to firmly put ourselves on the map and booked an exhibition stand. After much deliberating over what theme we’d go with, we decided on a two-seater arcade racing machine – Battle Gear 3! The arcade went down well with the delegates and the battle to reach the top of our ‘Top Gear’ style leaderboard was intense. Congratulations to Chris Griffiths from CIMA who took top spot and a bottle of champagne! We were even lucky enough to be visited by The Stig on the Tuesday who was happy to race anyone who dared challenge him!

Aside from the arcade, late nights and probably a bit too much free wine at the Awards evening – the conference was a great success. The seminars and workshops provided us with some great insights into the challenges that graduate recruiters face and it was great to meet many clients and future clients over the course of the 3 days.

The Conference also coincided with the release of the latest results from the AGR Summer Survey 2009. Whilst the results don’t make great reading for this summer’s graduates, I think there was definitely a positive feeling amongst the attendees of the Conference that things will of course improve. As always, the good news for first and second year students is that you still have time to get some relevant work experience before you graduate and put yourself in the strongest position possible to secure a good graduate job.

To find out more about the AGR Conference, visit the AGR website.

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For all returning placement students, ASET runs a yearly essay competition. Offering students the chance to write retrospectively about their placement experiences and help inform others about the benefits of undertaking a work placement.

The winning 900-word essay will be awarded a £700 prize. The competition is launched each September, with a deadline of early December and the winner announced in February. For details of this year’s competition, please see Essay Competition.

The 2008 Essay Competition has been won by Tim Chapman from the University of Kent. Tim is studying Computer Systems Engineering and undertook his placement at BAE Systems in Rochester.

Congratulations to Tim who on the 13th May 2009 received his £700 prize in a ceremony held at the Department of Electronics, University of Kent.

Here is a short snippet of Tim’s Essay

“Industrial placements are often a highly valuable and important part of any degree course, but are not always considered by students when applying. I cannot stress enough the value of the extra year; it gives you the opportunity to gain some experience in your chosen field and better prepare yourself to enter the world of work.

After a lot of thought I decided that I wanted a course which taught both Computer Science and Electronics Engineering. This had the benefit of keeping my options open, which was particularly important as I was unsure of what field would most interest me. With the course I selected I could work as anything from a computer programmer to a hardware engineer. When applying for my placement I was fairly certain that the software side would suit me best; my CV reflected this. However, I actually got a placement as an Electronic Engineer, something I had not had a huge amount of experience with. It turned out to be an eye-opening experience and I now know that this is the job for me.

When you first start your industrial placement you will quickly learn the stark difference between knowledge and understanding. University furnishes you with a good knowledge of your chosen subject, but it is often difficult to truly understand the concepts and why they are being taught. By immersing yourself in the working environment for a year you gain an understanding of the concepts you have learned and how these concepts are utilised to resolve everyday problems”

To download or view this full essay in PDF format, please click here.

The Judges of the competition also gave special commendation to Alyxandra Milne from Liverpool John Moores University and Stephanie Rostron from Leeds Metropolitan University who will receive runner up prizes of £100. Alyxandra worked at Chester Zoo, while Stephanie did her placement at Dorint GmbH, a German hotel chain.

To download or view Alyxandra’s full essay in PDF format (please note this is a very large file so takes a couple of minutes to view), please click here .

To download or view Stephanies’s full essay in PDF format, please click here.

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When I attended my interview at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, I was asked what I wanted to gain from my placement experience. I distinctively remember replying that I wanted to shadow forensic psychologists, that I was hoping to have lots of prisoner contact, the chance to interview prisoners, the possibility of facilitating on programmes run by the psychology department and generally that I wanted to become involved in as much research as I could, and learn as much as possible.

During my placement I also hoped to discover a few things about myself. This experience for me was about gaining some direction in my life and choosing the right career path. When I first started my placement I was relatively sure that I wanted to go on to complete my MSc in forensic psychology and finally become a chartered psychologist after years of demanding training. However, my mind was open enough to know that I may not enjoy my time at Wormwood Scrubs and it may lead me in a whole new direction

In relation to my final year of study and future career I know that forensics is still the area I am most interested and passionate about, however, this placement has opened new doors such as counselling within forensic psychology or maybe forensic psychology but within the probation service opposed to the prison service. I have always been interested in forensics, but working alongside those studying for their Masters in counselling psychology at Wormwood Scrubs has enlightened me to another area of psychology that holds my interest. When making my module choices for my final year, these were the first two I requested.

In retrospect, I can say that my time here was fantastic; I have learnt so much and truly appreciate the opportunity I have had to meet and work with prison officers, probation staff, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and so many more professionals, not forgetting the prisoners themselves!!

Many people find it hard to believe that I loved working in a prison in close contact with prisoners, but I really have enjoyed it and it’s one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences I have ever had. I am 100% sure that I want to carry on working in a similar environment, supporting those who are less fortunate and need help to turn their back on the criminal world.

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Name: Sarah Melrose

Age: 20

University: DeMontfort Leicester

Course: Marketing Management

Company: Microsoft

Job Title: Student Programme Administrator

Hi, I’m Sarah, studying Marketing Management at De Montfort University in Leicester. I’m just about to start my most important year so far at uni, and hopefully the best, and begin my placement at Microsoft in Reading. Microsoft is so huge and there are so many different departments and roles it can be confusing, but my role is a marketing one working on the student programme and other media projects.

I’m due to start at Microsoft on Monday 6th July, but the first week is an introduction week getting to know more about Microsoft and each other as I’ll be sharing this experience with 70 other interns! For the first week all interns are staying in a hotel, kind courtesy of Microsoft, no doubt there will be lots of things going on, including getting lost around Reading…!

My advice if you are still looking is keep looking! Something will turn up when you expect it, and be open to talking randomly to anyone. On the train on the way home from a Sara Lee interview I got chatting to another lady who works at O2 (both companies in Slough) and she did her placement there and offered to pass on my CV, so you never know who you can meet! I also did temping work after my exams working for a web development company, and after chatting to the owner he asked me to keep in contact for the future. So opportunities are always there, you just have to be pro-active with searching.

As for my placement I’m starting soon, moving into a house with 5 other interns at Microsoft, and will certainly keep you posted!

Sarah

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…..Ben Downes from Loughborough University. Following a review of his placement at BAE Systems, congratulations Ben you are this weeks winner!

We caught up with Ben to find out a little bit more about our competition winner.

What will you spend your £50 Amazon vouchers on?

“I will most likely be spending my voucher on a few books and a film or two.”

What are your careers plans for the future now that you are finishing your placement?

“In the future I am looking to work in biomedical engineering of some description. I am interested in doing this because i think it is facinating how the natural world can be shaped and augmented using engineering and artificial parts to improve peoples quality of life.”

Top placement tip:

“My top placement tip is to always ask the questions and raise any issues you have. In my experience the company has you there in order to try and impress you into returning to work with them. As a result they will strive to make you happy if it is within their capability to help you then they will.”

Why did you decide to review your placement?

“I reviewed the placement as I thought that the RateMyPlacement idea was a fantastic one and I wanted to let people know how much you can get out of a placement and that they are really worthwhile.”

Well done for writing a great review Ben! Happy spending! To read the winning review, please click here.

Completing a placement or internship this summer? Fancy winning your own £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate?

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The greatest challenge that I have faced within the time I have worked at Edwards Duthies is attempting to get a person very close to being classified as legally insane to understand exactly what was going on. The man clearly needed a hospital order, which basically means that he will be put in a mental institution and he clearly did not need to go to trial. Yet try telling him that!!

Initially the client had been charged with a s.18 assault. That’s legal talk for a pretty hardcore assault. It wasn’t anywhere near that level of severity but because it was an assault on a police officer they’d bolstered the charge. (There’s a sickening lack of humility within the police, each one believes that they are the law. If I could wreak profanities on this page I would. Still it’s great fun being on the defence side when that is the case.)

Anyway as I said the client is charged ridiculously and there is no way that our client is going to plead to its severity and to be fair that’s right. We enter the Court and tell the Judge that our client will not plead guilty to it. The Judge indicates to the prosecution that they should drop the strength of the charge to a level that our client will accept guilt for. The prosecution rightly do.

It is then the defence team’s job to speak and take instructions from the client on whether he will accept the charge. This communication was unbelievably difficult.

The client agreed wholly that he had performed the assault. We’d take him through the incident and he’d agree fully. Then we’d ask how do you plead to which he’d always say not guilty. He was obviously afraid to do it! We told him that if he did say not guilty to the plea then he’d have to go to trial and he would lose the trial (the evidence was overwhelming). After literally three hours of explaining he saw sense. We called everyone back into the Court to see how he pleaded. The court clerk stood up and asked ‘how do you plead?’. His answer was not guilty…

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Hello all,

My essay is now complete!!! After muchos effort and a lot of blood, sweat and tears I finally completed it. Done. Finito. Bye Bye.

So now I have started my role as a CAD Technician, no more suit wearing days for me and I take over from my kind friend Mr Michael Latham who has now sadly left Outokumpu to live the student dream. My role is now a lot more relaxed and no longer carries the stress of a sales executive. I may miss the stress, but at the moment I am not as I am currently listening to Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris – you wouldn’t be having that in the office!!

I also celebrated my completed assignment by having a few beverages at POP nightclub Rotherham where we partied like VIP’s haha.

So back to work now and I no longer have any holidays left, a straight 4 and a half weeks before I leave Outokumpu, and I go on my adventure to ZANTE!!!! I am now learning to nest the bespoke pieces on to the stainless steel and raise the TRO’s of which is needed for the items to be cut. So basically when I raised an order in the sales office, it got transferred through to the CAD office of which I am working now. I now transfer all the details from the sales order and nest the items on different pieces of stainless steel to get the best utilisation. I then tell the guys on the works, which machine it will be going on plasma, waterjet, laser or saw and then I tell them the priority of the job if it needs doing as soon as possible or can be done at later date.

It is different from working in the sales office and will be a nice change as I get to see different parts of the business in action. I am here for four weeks then I am back off to University. So I will keep you updated with my progress here in the CAD office, as sadly Mr Latham will not be doing us any more blogs!! But at least I have taken over his role for a while, obviously to fill in the boring job but to gain more experience under his/my mentor master nester Keith Marsland.

I have to get back to learning the basics of nesting and TRO’s now, as I have never done any of these before and it is becoming a bit of a ball ache as I keep forgetting!! Soon to be my leaving party on the 24th July!! I wonder what they have planned for me? It is also payday so maybe some shenanigan’s going off.

A lot of you out there will be getting your University results, I hope that you have done well. Most of my mates have done ok and have come out with 2:1’s but no-one has yet to get a 1st!! I hope I will be the one doing that next year!!

So no more fancy trips out for meals, no more trips to customers and soon no more Outokumpu. I will keep you updated with my progress!! A couple more blogs and I will let the new recruits take over!!

Asta La Vista.

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So, I’m half way through my six-week placement, and I’ve finished my time at Generate Sponsorship PR.

I enjoyed my time there, putting theory into action by writing press releases, making reports for clients and realising that the little jobs contribute towards the bigger picture. Generate taught me lessons that aren’t so much around my skills for the job, but towards getting into the routine of work. I found the tasks I was set I completed to a high standard, and my colleagues were pleased with my work.

However, it was the continuous Monday to Friday 9-SIX routine that I need to adjust to. Any student used to the uni lifestyle will be in for a shock when starting work!

One thing I’ve definitely learnt from work experience is about my capabilities. The tasks I’d been set I found I could do (some quite easily, not to be big headed!). But, once I get a job I know I’ll have the confidence to forward myself into any form of work. Part of my experience at uni has involved being Sports Editor of the official uni magazine. I’ve learnt invaluable lessons about my capabilities and what I can do. I hope from the next three weeks I can push my self further.

This week I’ll be starting work experience with BskyB, which I’m very much looking forward to. Expectations for the placement include more of a dynamic, lively atmosphere. I’ve been told I’ll be working with the editor on Sky’s magazine, and I’m hoping to use more of my creative side.

I’m privileged to have the opportunity to work at Sky, such a well know company, and I’m again hoping that some of the skills I’ve learnt, particularly from my professional writing unit, will come in useful.

You know what they say – Skys’ the limit. (Awful pun!).

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We came across this video on YouTube and couldn’t resist putting it up here as 2 minutes and 56 seconds worth of advice on ‘How not to be in an appraisal meeting’!

Enjoy!! Please feel free to make any comments

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Name: Julian Reddick
University: Loughborough University
Course: Computing and Management
Company: Credit Suisse
Job Title: Summer Internship

Bonjour, I am writing this introductory blog from the sunny climate of the south of France where I am spending 10 days relaxing with my family before starting my placement on June 29th. This summer I will be working for Credit Suisse at their Canary Wharf office in their derivatives division. I have recently finished my finals at Loughborough University where I studied Computing and Management, so this holiday is a much needed break before the busy summer ahead.

So the natural question is to why I’m going to be interning this summer rather than looking for a graduate role. Next year I will be studying for my MA at Warwick, in order to make the most of the summer I decided to gain some experience in the financial sector. However this wasn’t always my plan.

The third year of my degree was a “sandwich year”; this was spent working in the Finance division at Lehman Brothers. Upon completion of this year out I was offered two jobs (great!) within the IT department and upon the general management program. The Friday I received my job offer was the Friday before the announcement of Lehman’s declared bankruptcy. Obviously having worked at the bank for the previous year I knew there were problems at hand, however I didn’t, nor did anyone else, think that the American government would allow the bank to go under. After this news I was back to square one, no job offer and stuck in a rapidly contracting job market. This in reality presented a great opportunity to continue my education in the form of a post graduate degree and it also allowed me a free summer to gain more experience.

From the work I had done at Lehman, the people who I had met and the high level of expectation placed upon staff, whether interns or not, I knew I wanted to work in the financial sector. Lehman being an American Bank had a very distinct culture, so I wanted to experience a new culture and with British Banks offering little distinction between their Investment Banking divisions (where I wanted to be) and more commercial activities I decided to apply for roles with European Banks. The Banks I applied for and successfully navigated the plethora of questions, online tests et al were Credit Suisse, UBS and Deutsche Bank.

Credit Suisse invited me to come in for assessment centre and interviews almost immediately, this was a great sign. As I’m sure many of you students know it can be an eternity between steps of an application. With little to no correspondence, one enters a land of hope with every ring of your mobile potentially being a job offer. So for Credit Suisse to be so prompt was impressive.

The assessment centre and interview process was a really enjoyable experience, I am lucky enough to not really be phased or nervous before such events. Having other options at other banks gave me a bit of a stronger position regarding finding the company which fitted in with my personal ethos and plans. So the interviews were really a two way process, I probably asked more questions than they asked me! The assessment centre consisted of a group activity and three interviews. The interviews were conducted by managers who were looking to bring interns in to their teams, this was the first time I had seen this and thought it was a great idea. The managers could align their expectations and needs with the prospective candidates to see whether they would fit in.

The whole process went really well and I was offered a job in the Asset Management division. Perfect! I accepted this offer almost immediately: the people who had interviewed me, the role they had offered and the culture of Credit Suisse seemed like a perfect match for me. I informed the other banks of my decision and whilst they tried to talk me out of it I stuck to my decision.

As I stated initially I will be working in the derivative division, but I had been offered a job in Asset Management. As it turned out, through the economic down turn Credit Suisse decided to concentrate on their core competencies which didn’t include their Asset Management team; this was sold off so I was transferred to their to derivatives team.

This in all honesty is a better fit for me. Due to the change of division I was invited to their head office to have a chat with an MD in derivatives and to see where I would fit in and the type of work I would like to do. This level of personal contact between someone so senior and an intern I really appreciated and showed the approachability of all their staff.

Phil, the MD, allocated me a team he thought I would be suitable for and I met my prospective manager at an event organised by the recruitment team. All the successful applicants were invited down to the head office to meet one another, the current placement students as well as their prospective managers. I saw a bunch of friendly faces from the interview process which was great, had many of my questions answered, a tour around their very impressive Canary Wharf office and a long chat with my manager about what was to be expected of me during my internship.

This summer will be full of new experiences and will be a great learning opportunity and I look forward to sharing it with you all.

Cheers,
Julian

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