Here are my “Core 6” placement skills and how my experiences have helped me develop as an individual and employee.
When thinking about how to write about the skills I have used and developed on my Placement Year at Müller, I really struggled with getting my thoughts down on the page. Being on placement has opened my eyes to so many ways of working and has helped shape me into a well-rounded colleague with a balance of skills I’m proud of. If only there was a way of using some kind of super-metaphor to say it all (I think you see where I’m going with this – there may be Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spoilers ahead!)…
Iron Man – Leadership
Although it’s a heavily debated topic following Captain America: Civil War, I believe Tony Stark’s Iron Man embodies a lot of what leadership can be, albeit imperfectly. Leadership skills are key when entering a placement, especially when taking ownership of projects and work. Qualities such as people management, initiative and decisiveness can be especially useful when collaborating with groups of peers and guiding discussions towards an aligned outcome. Personally, by working on an ‘intern group project’ as part of my placement scheme, I’ve been able to exercise my leadership skills in meetings – making sure we stick to our agendas and keep momentum (it also helps to have a fantastic team!).
Captain America – Communication
Steve Rogers, or Captain America, is known for clear, adaptive communication skills in the MCU, especially in his interpersonal relationships. Communication on placement takes many forms, whether presenting in meetings, motivating a team or simply having ‘water cooler chat’ with colleagues. Placements often offer ample opportunities to develop a wide range of communication skills. During my placement year at Müller, a ‘Development Day’ session run by Growth Spark Training helped me understand what makes a good presentation, and how I can ensure mine are engaging and accessible. That session has been a real highlight, and I’ve already been able to apply it to my own work.
Hulk – Innovation
Best known for the ability to lose his temper at any given moment (not one of my six placement skills!), Bruce Banner also shows incredible innovative thinking as a scientist. He uses his prior knowledge and applies it to new concepts, reaching many breakthroughs in his filmography. Placement is a great opportunity to bring the knowledge and skills you learn during university to real-life applications and contribute through the unique viewpoint of a student. For example, I have been able to show innovation by sharing ideas during project work, and my voice is listened to and valued.
Thor – Resilience
I believe resilience is one of the most important skills for any kind of personal development. Everybody is likely to suffer from failure or disappointment of some kind, but it’s how we bounce back that defines our resilience. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thor fails to stop Thanos, but after taking time to admit his mistakes, he trains and fights harder. Being resilient on placement can come in many forms; for me, I’ve become more patient with myself – giving myself grace to accept that I may not understand everything at first, and trusting that learning takes time.
Black Widow – Problem Solving
Natasha Romanoff – better known as Black Widow – consistently demonstrates problem solving skills, especially when under pressure or with limited resources. During my placement, I’ve had so many opportunities to use my own problem-solving toolkit, especially since I have a role based in the Operations department. This has perhaps been my steepest learning curve, where my approach has evolved. This is largely thanks to advice and support from my colleagues. One lesson that will stick with me from this year is when troubleshooting a problem, think first, act later – assess the situation, stay logical, then decide your strategy.
Hawkeye – Hitting Targets
Despite the fact I find Hawkeye to be the most underwhelming of the Avengers (apologies to any die-hard Clint fans…), hitting targets has been crucial during my placement year, and a real area of development in my seven months so far. In a food manufacturing business, hitting targets is essential – if we don’t get it right, products can’t be made and they can’t be sold. Unlike at university, where missing a target mainly impacts you, it’s eye-opening to see how it affects business productivity. Since being with Müller, I’ve learned to plan proactively and track my progress, specifically through To-Do Lists.
It doesn’t take a hero to thrive in the workplace, nor does it only take 6 skills, but this placement has given me countless opportunities to feel a little more super prior to my return to York in September.
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