Marcus Regan

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Placement: Siemens

I decided to take on a placement as I really liked the idea of taking a step away from studying and actually apply the knowledge I developed at Lancaster into a working environment. I believed going through the recruitment process and working in industry for a year was something very worthwhile due to the competitive environment there is today.

My role was to support the Entry Level Department in HR. This included working closely and supporting all Entry Level employees including Apprentices, Interns, Graduates and Work Experience students. My work ranged from administrative duties, liaising and organising with external partners, attending various career events across Lincolnshire and occasionally beyond as well as managing Marketing projects. I also organised and managed the Apprentice recruitment process for the 2016 intake. My role was very orientated around having good communication and organisation skills which I have developed strongly and  am sure will be beneficial in my future career.   The culture at Siemens is quite unique in terms of how you are treated as you are more than just an intern but are a vital member of a team

My placement has been very rewarding but also very challenging. I never realised how much responsibility I would get as an intern. The tasks assigned were vital to the success of the department and this was quite daunting at first. My colleagues and Manager were very supportive with monthly review meetings to discuss my progress and identify what I had done well and areas in which to  improve. Each Intern is part of the IDP (Intern Development Programme) and this involved a team building exercise, presentation skills and a career’s workshop with an End of year Gala. As well as the professional side, the social side has been good too as I have been provided good opportunities to network with various people across Siemens UK.

What I liked most about my placement is the work culture Siemens has. Everyone is very friendly and supportive. The whole emphasis of you being there is to develop you as much as they can and they do this by not holding you back but providing you with opportunities to make the most of your placement in the time frame you have. Without a doubt the skills and knowledge I have gained through my placement will definitely aid me in my studies. My approach to work is now much more efficient and tuned to when I started at Lancaster. Also with the insights I have gained in HR, I have seen what employers look for and what they value out of a candidate. This I can utilise into my Graduate applications to ensure I receive an outcome I desire.

The LUMS careers team were fantastic in assisting me with my placement search and without them I may have not got to where I am today.