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Oliwia 's third year placement

Posted 1st December 2023
by Oliwia

Entering my third year, I made the decision to expand my university experience with a placement year. As a Marketing and Psychology student at Sheffield Hallam, staying in Sheffield for this part was crucial to me, which became a challenge when I quickly saw that most marketing placements were located down South. The search for an ideal placement, coupled with the pressure of meeting the university's deadline, was an anxiety-inducing process. In January 2023, I secured a Social Media Assistant role at the Oxfam Hub in Batley after a successful interview. Despite the position being unpaid and requiring a significant train ride, the fulfilment of doing something I genuinely enjoy outweighed the challenges.

While my marketing course briefly touches on social media, it's an area I'm increasingly drawn to due to the growing job opportunities. The placement provided a valuable head start, offering a greater level of hands-on experience than any provided by my course. I enjoyed the creative freedom, creating content for a range of platforms and receiving occasional briefs from my superiors in the marketing team, and accessing marketing insights available to business social media accounts. Beyond marketing, my role at the Oxfam Batley Online Hub involved diverse tasks, from item listing to dispatching. Unexpectedly, the most impactful aspect was the profound knowledge gained about sustainability and the environmental crisis, changing my mindset and daily life for the better. The opportunity to represent Oxfam at the Yorkshire Sustainability Week Conference deepened my understanding of environmental contributions, sparking awareness about the future of our planet and innovative solutions.

Opting for a placement was a difficult decision, especially considering I'll watch my peers graduate ahead of me. Despite these feelings, I'm genuinely pleased with my choice. The gained knowledge and workplace experience have significantly boosted my confidence as I approach my final year at university and consider future career opportunities. I now feel more secure in my capabilities, not only in handling substantial aspects of my career like briefs and deadlines but also in managing smaller facets such as meetings and interviews.

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