Rachel: BSc (Hons) Fashion Buying & Merchandising.

Placement: Lab Technician, English Fine Cottons

Why did you choose to do a placement?

Industry experience, break from studying and something different from the work experience I’d previously had.

How did you choose your placement?

I found it via the Manchester Careers website. I thought it was a great opportunity as it was a technical role within raw materials and manufacturing that also allowed me to stay near friends and family for the year.

Did you get your first placement you applied for? For students who don’t get their first placement what advice can you give them?

No. I applied for the Debenhams Business Placement and was successful to the first round of interviews (I had previously had work experience at the head office over the Summer), but I was unsuccessful to the next round of interviews. After going through the process of applying for retail work, I had been used to the idea of rejection: sending out twenty CVs then hearing back from two if I was lucky. Just don’t take rejection as a criticism, you are more than good enough. You might not receive the ideal role you wanted (I didn’t) but you will learn a lot within that role and also about yourself. The application stage is really great practise in itself just to get used to the requirements and the determination needed for finding something you want to do later on in life.

How much responsibility did you have on your placement?

When I think about it now, I actually had quite a lot of responsibility (even though there was a lot of learning initially – as with any new job). I began as the permanent lab technician for around a month until the new lab technician came. We then worked together on data collection, and then I was later given further system implementation projects such as fabric room and sample management then standard operating procedure creation and risk assessment auditing.

How has the placement year developed you as a person and your skills?

As much as many colleagues and teachers always encourage students to say “yes” to every opportunity/responsibility thrown at them, it was the first time in a professional environment where I began to have the confidence to say “no”. It wasn’t rude, it is just being aware of my personal wellbeing and managing my workload effective.

I have also developed a balance between having a key eye for detail and time allocation for actually completing a project (or even just over sending emails).

Would you like to tell us anything else about either your placement experience or placement support in general at UoM?

It was worth the highs and worth the challenges. And I have to say, the support from the University has been fantastic. Enough for guidance throughout the applications and working journey as well as contacts but not too much, which allowed me to learn to balance my time and organise the applications I wanted.