Hi, I’m Laiba, a BSc Honours Marketing and Management student. I chose to do a placement year to gain UK corporate experience and get a better understanding of how things work in a real-world environment. I was successful in securing a role to work within Newcastle University Business School, not as a student this time, but as an employee which gave me a whole new perspective.
Over the past year, I’ve worked as an Engagement Assistant Intern within the Careers and Employability team. My role allowed me to contribute to and support a wide range of student-facing projects and events, giving me valuable insight into how the Business School actively plays a role in supporting students in building their careers.
Over the year, I led and supported a wide range of student-facing projects including the Career Hub relaunch, Barclays and Cintra company insight visits, skills development workshops, and employer takeovers with Deloitte and RSM. I also worked on the Career Success Conference handling employer engagement, student communications, pre-event planning, on-the-day coordination, and post-event follow-ups.
Along with this I worked across student recruitment, representing the careers support we offer to prospective students. I managed the Career Hub, created digital content, posters, and digital screens, wrote marketing copy, and managed events on MyCareer. I also provided one-to-one CV and cover letter guidance and signposted students to relevant career resources.
In addition to my student facing roles, I worked with the Business Partnerships team where I led and assisted employer calls and wrote case studies for the Business School website.
Through this experience, I’ve gained confidence in writing professional emails and communications, improved my organisation and time management skills, and developed a deeper understanding of how student engagement works behind the scenes and what the education sector entails. I’ve learned how a professional, corporate environment operates, from internal communication and collaboration to handling unexpected challenges calmly and effectively. On a personal level, this year has helped me grow in resilience, self-awareness, and confidence. I’ve learned how to manage competing priorities while staying productive and efficient in how I work.
This 11-month placement has been an invaluable part of my university journey. It gave me the professional experience of working in a UK corporate environment and helped me gain clarity and confidence in the career path I want to pursue. More than anything, it allowed me to build meaningful connections across the Business School – relationships and experiences I’ll carry with me long after the placement ends.
I would highly encourage every student to consider doing a placement year. It truly expands your horizons and can be a life changing experience.
For anyone preparing to go on placement, my advice would be to be proactive in seeking opportunities, ask lots of questions, and get used to the 9-to-5 routine because staying organised is key. Talk to people, even if it’s just a quick conversation, and take the time to build connections and build your network. Do your best and make the most of the placement year it because the year goes by quicker than you think!
If you have any questions about placements or study abroad, contact the team at nubs.placementandstudyabroad@newcastle.ac.uk. They are here to support you before, during, and after your placement journey.