Erin Ballantyne

• Placement role: Marketing & Communications Intern
• Placement organisation: Bosch UK & Ireland

What were the benefits of undertaking a placement year?

Gaining hands-on experience and applying the skills I’ve been learning at University into real life situations. A placement allows you to figure out if you think the role and industry is the right fit for you or, if it isn’t, what you want to develop your career in.

What employability skills have you developed from your placement?

I developed key skills relating to my degree, such as reporting, copywriting, competitor analysis, content creation, excel skills, sales analysis, and managing and organising influencer campaigns. I also gained important soft skills such as communication, time management, listening, and leading teams.

What advice would you offer students applying for a placement?

Stay organised and don’t lose hope. Applying for placements and sitting through applications and interviews can be a very daunting and draining experience. Make an excel spreadsheet with the placements you’ve applied for and the status of your application – if you haven’t heard from a company since your application, reach out to show you’re interested, go above and beyond to stand out. Make sure you do lots of research too, you don’t want to go into an interview and seem caught off guard if they’re asking what you know about the company and you’re not well prepared.

What was the biggest highlight of your placement year?

My highlight was attending the Screwfix Live Trade show, where I was the only person representing my brand, and out of all the Bosch stand, I sold the most products. This was only two months into my placement, so it was really rewarding to prove myself to others in the company and show off my skills to the public.

How do you feel your placement year will help you in the future?

It will help me stand out against other candidates, with a full year of experience developing a variety of skills. My placement year has completely changed my mind set and attitude and I feel I’ve become a more confident and resilient version of myself.