Television and Broadcasting student, Alex, talks about his placement so far
Alex Arroyo studies BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting and is currently on a placement at Gymshark.
How many applications did you make?
Only two. The first one was awful; they had a strict dress code. I didn’t have a good impression and I knew that I could not be working there for a whole year. Gymshark was the second interview I did and everyone was so welcoming.
How did Creative Careers support you in your placement search?
1-2-1 meetings with the Creative Careers teams are key. They really help you through the CV and interview process, as well as all the paperwork that doing a placement involves.
Tell us about your employer
Gymshark is one of the fastest growing companies. We have lots of work, and right now there are about 1,000 employees. I work in the Video Team as an Editor, which means communicating with other editors. There are 8 editors in my team plus videographers, copyrighters, graphic designers, etc… So communication skills and organisation are key. Deadlines are tight but working hours are really flexible.
In Gymshark interns are not only interns, you have all the perks an employee would have. Flexible working hours, free meals, 50% discount, £500 work from home allowance, and more! They make work easier, so you enjoy all the time you spend, and work with passion.
What's your role?
I edit videos for LinkedIn, Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat, YouTube and internal channels. When I say I, I mean my whole team. It involves getting the footage from a server, editing, colour grading, adding subtitles, researching music, and exporting everything for the different channels.
What training have you done?
My place of work is really flexible. I can work with who I want and focus on the areas that will help me get a job in the future. I’ve set a list of objectives with my manager and he helped me create action plans to work on.
Highlights so far
I’ve worked on a £500,000 production and it was amazing. Getting to work with so many people at the same time, organizing crews and improving communication skills.
What your plans for the future?
In the future I want to be producing, directing or editing. I’d like to work on adverts or music videos. It's important to challenge yourself and get skills that you’ll be able to transfer to what you want to do in the future. That's why my placement is so important.
What advice would you give to your fellow students in year 1 and year 2 regarding their placement search?
Please do research about what you are passionate about. Be inspired, let yourself fail. Try, practice, and improve your skills. Meet people and try to be surrounded by people who are more skilled, so you’re challenged. And build objectives. But don’t overthink it and enjoy what you do at all times!