Case studies : Industrial placement, SELEX Galileo: Louise Wood

Louise Burton did a one year industrial placement at the defence electronics firm.

I opted to take a one year industrial placement as part of my course, and was attracted to SELEX Galileo as they are a large organisation operating on a global scale. They also offered a placement in human resources which would give me a variety of experiences and opportunities.

The main tasks I carried out consisted of data handling, intranet page editing/creation and reporting. I also took part in a number of other ad hoc activities which are dependant on the time of year, such as recruitment and elements of the graduate scheme.

The aspect I have most enjoyed is the variety within the job, and the opportunity to work alongside a close team in Basildon but also HR colleagues across the different sites in the UK, Italy and US. I was initially surprised and challenged by the level of responsibility given to me, but this has enabled me to improve my range of skills and knowledge, as well as my confidence in the work environment. This year in industry has helped me to see whether a career in HR is something that interests me, and which areas I would be most keen to work in after I finish my final year at university. 

If I were to give any advice to a student planning their placement, I would say to get as involved as possible, take up any opportunities you are offered and make the most of the experience.