Emily Parker

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Placement: Cherith Simmons Learning & Development

I knew that taking a placement year would give me practical skills and experience that would not only look very good on my CV but would also help me to apply the theories I have learnt at University.

I spent the year managing relationships between the company and clients, I was the account manager for a major hospital group, as well as two voluntary organisations. I looked after around 250 students completing professional qualifications from undergraduate degree to MBA level.

In addition to my main role, I was also responsible for the recruitment of all new staff members, including university placement students, apprentices, tutors and markers. This included conducting telephone and face-to-face interviews. Following the recruitment I organised and completed two-week long inductions with all new members of staff.

Working for an SME can come across as less impressive than a larger organisation, but I had more responsibility than I ever imagined I would get. Due to the small size of the organisation, there was an almost family-like relationship formed with my colleagues. We worked as a team and never just passed things onto a different department. My placement allowed me to see the bigger picture. I gained a wide knowledge of how an organisation is run and what happens in the business world.

Six months into my placement I became the line manager of the new member of staff, this was a level of responsibility that no previous placement student had been given.

Cherith Simmons have asked me to go back to work for them after I have finished University. I have extended my placement by two months over summer taking on a role in the marketing department, however I hope to experience working with a larger organisation in the future.