Jess

Describe your placement experience

I worked as a Customer Marketing Assistant at Lactalis UK & Ireland from July 2023 until July 2024. Lactalis UK & Ireland is a global dairy company that owns many household brands such as Galbani, President and Seriously. In this role I liaised with supermarkets about marketing campaigns and assisted management with daily tasks. 

This role was very flexible in the tasks that I conducted, and each day was different with new challenges. I also got to try a lot of new products, which meant I ate a lot of cheese!

What were the best things about it?

There were many highlights of my role, but I particularly enjoyed being hands on in the creative process of creating campaigns. I liked the responsibility I was given with internal programmes that supported our products so that we could drive sales. 

I also took part in many events to raise money for the charity supported by Lactalis, which included an in-office sports day which we were able to raise a lot of money for! There was also a lot of support regarding diversity, equity and inclusion which directly supported members of staff. 

Have your career plans been informed by your placement?

Yes, definitely! Before going on my placement year, I had no idea what I wanted to do after university which often left me feeling panicked. However, my placement year helped me ultimately decide that I love the office environment and am passionate about sales and marketing. I now feel confident that the skills I developed during my placement will assist me in getting a role in the future. 

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

My advice for students considering doing a placement would be to apply for as many roles as possible that you are interested in! It can be a slow process getting a placement so do not get disheartened if you receive a few rejections. Also, treat every interview as an opportunity to learn as it is an invaluable experience. 

Make the most of the university's career support services and get your CV and personal statement checked by their lovely staff.