Securing a placement was one of the most difficult but most rewarding things I have done during my time as a Digital Marketing student at Portsmouth.
I applied to over 20 different companies over the course of my search. During this time, I was rejected at the final interview stage from a role that I thought was perfect for me. It is very difficult to pick yourself back up from that and keep going, but it’s worth it.
I had a meeting with Chris from the BaL Placements Team to really try to finetune my CV and Cover Letter for the Marketing Intern role at Nintendo. As a gamer, I knew that the perfect placement for me would be at a company like Nintendo - so I had to get this one right.
After applying, I had a video interview with my now manager, and was then asked to attend an in person interview at the office. Again, I went back to Chris and asked for guidance, where I picked up some skills that I would later use in my interview. I am confident that these short one-on-one chats with Chris helped me secure my Placement.
As Nintendo UK’s first Marketing Intern, I really had the opportunity to make the role my own. One of my favourite modules at University was Digital Content Creation, where I refined my Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator skills. Now, I use these same skills every single day to create bespoke assets for Nintendo’s marketing campaigns.
My creative skills were recognised by the staff at Nintendo UK, who allowed me to lead my own creative campaign: promoting a new Nintendo Switch accessory. This campaign has given me so many skills that I will be able to carry over into my post graduate role.
Looking to the future, this year has helped me finetune my career goals. I have built a network of connections to people in the industry I would like to work in, and I am certain this will help me secure a role in this very same industry once I graduate.
To anyone currently searching for a placement, don’t give up, even when it seems like it’s easier to just continue into Third Year. I secured my placement at Nintendo in April, and started at the end of May. I have friends who got a placement in June, and started in August. It isn’t too late to start applying.
Even though I was rejected from other roles that I thought would be right for me, I am so glad that I was, as I have had the best time working at Nintendo, and I've been so lucky with the opportunities I've been given.
To any students currently considering a placement but are not 100% sure, obviously I would say go for it. It can be difficult knowing that some of your friends are going to graduate and finish University whilst you are away, but the experience you have on a Placement Year is invaluable.
