The first couple of days into my new job were daunting, meeting all my new colleagues, learning about my job role and trying to take in as much information about the company as possible. It was a scary feeling, which planted seeds of doubt in my mind about whether I had made the right decision to do a year in Industry.

However just two weeks later, and those doubts are a distant memory. In that short space of time I have developed both personally and professionally, highlighting 4 reasons why I know I have made the right decision: 

1. Opportunities to develop core skills  

As a person who isn’t what I call ‘tech savy’, working for a software company has most definitely encouraged me to perform outside of my comfort zone. In these two weeks, I have completed tasks and done presentations on topics which I never thought I’d be able to understand. I can’t thank the team enough for assigning me these tasks, and for pushing me to complete them in the given time period. Through doing this I have become increasingly confident. I have surprised myself with what I can learn and absorb, I also feel that after doing numerous presentations, my presenting skills have improved enormously.

These are only a few of the skills that I know I’ll obtain from doing this placement year, giving me the best advantage possible when applying for graduate jobs.

 2. Building networks and contacts 

When I started my placement, I wasn’t aware that I could benefit from so many networking opportunities. However, the number of contacts on my LinkedIn profile has almost doubled already. I now realise that my placement will be a fantastic opportunity to get myself known in the industry. Growing my network over the next 13 months is an exciting prospect, especially as I know that this will place me ahead of the game compared to all of my friends who have chosen not to do a placement and I will gain connections that will be invaluable to my future.

3.Confirms Career Path

I am someone who can’t currently see a definite career path, I know that a placement year is the best way to help make clear decisions about my future. I couldn’t ask for a better way to get an idea of what I want to do post-University than to have real experience. Getting stuck into work-related tasks has provided me with an idea of what it’s like to work in an industry and a specific job role. Already in the short time that I have been at ProspectSoft, I can see what aspects I feel I would excel in, and most enjoy.

4. Theoretical Knowledge Put Into Practice

Knowledge learnt at University is all great theoretically but useless if we can’t action it, and then apply it to real life scenarios. This is something that truly makes me realise that I have made the right decision to do a placement. From day one, I have been able to apply theoretical knowledge to working examples. Studying Business Management Marketing has provided me with a platform to build my skills upon, in turn helping me to succeed in my role.

However, I also know that everything I learn this year will help me profusely when returning to my final year at University, as I will have a better understanding of the theory through my experiential learning.

So, to sum up, not even a month into my placement, it’s already something that I would highly recommend. I have learnt an incredible amount about the industry so far, had all the training I need to feel prepared for the year ahead and I have even made some great friends. This I know can only be attributed to the fantastic culture at ProspectSoft. They are all so friendly and supportive and I can see that they invest a lot of time into training their placements. Working for an SME, you are given lots of responsibility and a chance to make a real impact on the company which is just what we need to get the best out of our year and the best out of ourselves. I look forward to the rest of my year with ProspectSoft and sharing my experiences with you all!

In the meantime, if you are interested in doing a placement at ProspectSoft to get that head start in your career or if you want to find out more about the opportunities that we offer, then visit our placement website at –http://placements.prospectsoft.com/

Or if you have already started a placement, why not read our ‘5 tips for someone starting their placement’ blog.