Case studies : Industrial placement, PSA Peugeot Citroen: Jack Emery

Jack Emery completed a 12-month placement on the NCWE award-winning scheme.

As I love cars, I looked at the automotive industry and researched the different companies that offered placement schemes. PSA Peugeot Citroën stood out from the rest as the company emits the same flair and style that its cars are famous for.

I applied via their careers website and was then invited to complete some online psychometric tests. Following this there was an assessment day, where we took part in various activities as well as an interview.

During the placement I worked in three different departments, designed to give me an overview of the whole parts operation. I had a wide range of responsibilities, ranging from day-to-day reports to project work. I loved the freedom and responsibility I had to develop and run my own projects. The work was thoroughly varied and has really given me a flavour of what it is like to work in a global company. Even though the company is large, you don’t feel anonymous, and I think that is important.

The most challenging aspect for me was definitely time management. If you don’t manage your time effectively, it can be difficult to control your workload. PSA gives all trainees core skills training and lots of support to help develop a range of skills that include time management, personal branding and presentation skills to name but a few. For me this training was invaluable as I will be able to use these skills back at university in my final year.