Hi, my name is Annie and I undertook a placement year within the IT Team in London before I go on to graduate (hopefully!) with an English degree from the University of Liverpool in 2021.
Placement years aren’t the norm for students studying subjects like English, but I was really keen to gain some experience in a ‘real,’ challenging position that wasn’t just manning a till or pulling pints. I chose to take a year out of my course to get a better idea of what I want to do as a career and to experience what life is like in a fast-paced city work environment. As someone with an interest in pursuing a career in human resources, I felt that a placement year in recruitment could provide an opportunity to pick up some valuable, HR-relevant skills, such as communication, business relations and increased commercial awareness of arguably the fastest-growing industry; IT. I chose Anson McCade as their placement genuinely offered the chance to be treated as a real employee in a successful business, doing the exact same work as colleagues who have much more experience than myself, and being rewarded for it in the same way as well.
Since day one of my placement, I have gained and improved upon so many skills, from verbal and written communication and effective research methods, to managing time and tasks successfully and building upon lasting commercial relationships with both candidates and clients. Although the position seemed daunting at first, I quickly found my feet thanks to the constant support offered by the more senior and experienced colleagues, who were always happy to answer my questions or explain things to me, regardless of what my query was. I learned something new every day and being challenged constantly has really boosted my confidence in my own abilities and skills. It was also nice knowing if I wanted to go on a visit home to Northern Ireland, I could work from the Belfast office too. ?
I would recommend a placement in recruitment with Anson McCade to any student who is seeking a challenging yet rewarding work experience, in a fast-paced environment with plenty of opportunity to prove your worth and be rewarded along the way. Even if you decide not to choose a career in HR or recruitment, the skills you’ll pick up will be of value in any career path.
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