Graduate Case Studies - Helen Dale - Small Company Placement
NAME: Helen Dale
AGE: 22
DEGREE/EMPLOYMENT: Graduated from the University of Surrey in 2005. She now works in Brighton for health and hygiene company Kimberly Clark on its EU supply chain graduate programme.
Work Experience:
Helen spent 10 weeks working with Ci Business Services Limited, which is a contract–cleaning company based in London. She found the placement through Shell Step (see panel). The focus of her project was to increase traffic to the website and to rebrand the company. By the end of her project, sales enquiries had increased and the number of visitors to the site had risen by 26%.
What was your motivation?
I'd always been keen to go into a graduate job and knew that having work experience was the best way to ensure that my applications would stand out from the crowd.
I'd originally considered doing a sandwich course but the degree that I chose didn't have that option. I found out about Step at my careers service after a lecturer recommended the programme.
What did the application process involve?
I filled in an application and selected the area I wanted to be in. When I was asked in for the interview I realised it was quite competitive. The interview was quite informal but I made sure I dressed smartly and talked about other work experience and positions of responsibility that I'd had, such as working as a bar manager.
What did you do?
It was meant to be a marketing placement but it evolved to focus on internet advertising, as I did a lot of work on the website and oversaw a redesign to make it more user friendly and to ensure it was picked up by search engines. As there were only 15 people in the company, I just got on with it. Half the time I was teaching myself out of a book. I had to be a self starter but I still brought in an extra £30,000 worth of new business.
How did you sell the experience on your CV?
Overall, the experience benefited me tremendously. It really helped being able to quantify the benefits my work had brought the company. I could write about what I'd done on my CV and being able to draw on the experience also made it much easier to answer questions during interviews.
Did you enjoy it?
Yes! It was a long commute and I had to be up at 6am each morning but I was very motivated and kept going.
What did you learn?
Having never worked in an office before, I found it particularly daunting at first. But it gave me a great idea of the office environment and how it works.
Best part:
Realising that I had something to offer from my degree.
Worst part:
Walking into an office where I didn't know what to expect.
Advice to readers:
I don't know if I'd have got my current job without the placement. It helped my job prospects immeasurably.
I don't think that many of my peers were as savvy as I was when it came to work experience but it's definitely worth doing.
Add to
Send to a friend
Post a comment
Comments
No comments....
Graduate Employers
| Nestlé | Although probably best known for our huge Nescafé and Kit K... | more |
| Enterprise Rent-A-Car | If you've ever had nightmares about spending years at university o... | more |
Graduate Case Studies
|
Enterprise Rent-a-car - Trevor - Management TraineeEnterprise Rent-a-car - Trevor - Management Trainee ... more |
|
Enterprise Rent-a-car - John - Group Daily Rental ManagerEnterprise Rent-a-car - John - Group Daily Rental Manager ... more |
|
Clarissa Gent - sales manager - RackspaceI manage a team of 10 sales representatives who sell IT services globally. My job is to coach and develop a buzzing business sales team and drive them to hit both their individual and team targets. ... more |
|
Lesley Brown - Sales & Marketing Executive - Allison & BusbySales & marketing executive at Allison & Busby (www. allisonandbusby.com). I look after a number of accounts at A&B, including wholesalers, some high street retailers and, left-field, suppliers to ferries and cruise liners. So that involves making sure they have relevant information on our titles and seeing what deals or offers we can work out. ... more |
Graduate Advice
|
Your guide to who has jobs, who wants interns and who needs trainees.... more |
|
At its most basic level retailing is the process of selling goods to customers,... more |
|
Think Before You Click - The Negative Side of Facebook The next time you’re about to upload pictures of your birthday party/night... more |
|
Nailing That Position- Top Tips for Getting Picked For Graduate Training Schemes If you’re currently stressing over applying for and going for interview... more |
Comments