Placement Experience: Employee Relations HR Team at Siemens Mobility - Sarah Lane

Why did you decide to take a placement year? 

I decided to take a placement year because I wanted to gain a level of understanding beyond the theory side of university. I also wanted to experience different sides to the HR industry to decide what I was most interested in before I graduated. 

How did you find the placement search/the support on offer?

The placement support on offer was really helpful, I contacted the Placement Team regularly with questions on my CV, applications as well as interview techniques. I had many video calls to improve my interview skills and it felt like the Placement team were always happy to help. 

Describe your company/your role, what you learnt, skills developed, highlights of your placement

Siemens Mobility is a rail company, with work in manufacturing as well as sales and bidding and the corporate side, which included the HR team where I worked. My role was in the Employee Relations team which was a part of a wider HR team. I learnt how to communicate with colleagues as well as the Senior team and other managers across the business, and how to prioritise tasks more effectively, ensuring that my work was always completed on time. The highlights of my placement were being a part of the planning, preparation and presentation of training sessions for managers across the business, where I then became a key contact in the team for them. 

How did your studies support your placement year?

My studies gave me a basic understanding of some key HR principles and policies, which I was able to apply in certain projects and tasks that I carried out. This as well as a sense of team working from Uni group projects allowed me to transfer this easily into my role. 

How was your placement overall - meeting or exceeding expectations?

I had little expectations of my placement, thinking they will treat me as someone with work experience. However, this was not the case at all. I was treated the same as every other employee and given so many opportunities. My placement definitely exceeded expectations. 

How are you finding Uni now that you have returned from placement? Is it supporting your final year of studies?

I have found returning to Uni quite challenging. Getting used to a structured day and working as part of a team is so different to Uni where it is very much individual and each day is different. I feel very supported coming back and have made use of a few services such as having regular contact with the BAL engagement team to help with my transition back into Uni life and any issues that I am facing. I also contacted the Academic Skills Tutors for a face to face meeting to help get back into the style of academic writing as well as researching for my dissertation.