Digby

Tell us about your placement experience

During my placement year at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, I gained valuable insights into luxury hospitality while developing essential skills. My responsibilities included welcoming guests, managing check-ins and check-outs, handling reservations, and providing concierge services. I was also able to shadow in other departments. 

Working in such a prestigious environment honed my attention to detail, efficiency, and ability to anticipate guest needs.

What were the best things about it?

I was extremely fortunate to be able to move to the City of London for a year and was a short walk away from the Shard. I was extremely grateful to be living in such a central location and was able to meet many new people who I am still friends with.

I also loved the networking I was able to do; working in an environment with a multitude of departments gave me exposure to different departments that I hadn’t previously had any interest in. 

Have your career plans been informed by your placement?

I have understood that I enjoy working with people and it has had an impact on my future career. 

From networking I was able to speak with the finance department and I gained a love for working in this field. Due to this exposure I decided to study revenue management in my final year, I have also been invited to work and attend multiple revenue conferences across the country and beyond. 

Even though this doesn’t directly correlate to the Shangri-La experience it is still important; if I hadn’t worked there I wouldn’t have got the department exposure which has now shaped the direction I wish to go down.

What advice do you have for students considering doing a placement?

Having a great support network around you is crucial - I had great friends and family who were able to support me through my move and living alone in a very large city. It is also important to just say 'yes' to the experiences that are on offer as you don’t know when some of these opportunities will come around again. 

You may (just like me) realise after placement that your career trajectory has changed and that is great, if I hadn’t done the placement I would still be chasing a career I don’t actually want to do.