Customer Development Student Placement Review

Your first core responsibility is to run and maintain the team's reporting on sales and investment performance. After Christmas, you will work on a placement project for 8 weeks to present to senior leaders. You will support any member of the team on tasks when asked to do so. In the latter stages, you can assume greater responsibility such as managing an account with a customer.

Initially, the business rightfully focusses on making you excel at your core responsibilities. After this, your manager will slowly build up the work they give you, always being available for support/coaching. This continues across the year, and when you perform well, more tasks will be delegated to you. Once you are totally settled and up-to-speed (generally around 6 months in), you will be given significant responsibility, such as managing a small customer account.

It is a steep learning curve assuming your first corporate job. I was new to the commercial function of a business so learnt tonnes about sales and account management, which is something never covered in academia. I was able to develop through a tailored development plan designed and monitored in conjunction with my line manager. There are an abundance of training courses, both optional and mandatory, which will develop new skills.

You are always supported by your line manager, with daily check-ins which move to weekly as you progress. Everyone in your team and beyond is willing to proffer support and guidance if you ask for it. There is a buddy program which you are automatically part of, while there is a mentor scheme for career development goals (voluntary). I felt supported, especially once we returned to the office post-Covid.

The culture is one of kindness and support. People are friendly and willing to help/chat. Leaders genuinely care and there are lots of morale-building activities and initiatives. Internal talent is highly regarded and there is a strong agenda for promoting and moving existing employees, including cross-functionally.

I very much enjoyed my placement and would recommend it to anyone interested in a career in business. Your work will be of value, you are well-supported, teams are energizing, and the culture creates a nice work environment. You learn a lot and the office facilities are fantastic - I would absolutely consider going back in the future!

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