Case Study

I’m currently working as an Intermediary Support Team Leader at Atom Bank. During my time at Sunderland, I took advantage of all the opportunities available to me and completed a placement year with White Lodging in Austin, Texas.

My placement in Texas really taught me to be adaptable. In a workplace where no two days were ever the same, I became adept at problem-solving and finding creative solutions quickly. This experience has had a significant impact on my career since returning to roles in the UK and has truly helped me excel.

My graduate placement was in a management role that really helped me learn how to lead a team to achieve targets, which is a significant part of my role today. I was also exposed to the American professional culture and work ethic, where we celebrated and reflected on all wins and gave our best to serve our guests and team. This exposure has enabled me to better celebrate my team and their achievements today.

The highlight of my placement year was the sense of ownership I was given in the role and how included the team made me feel. Texas is a long way from home, and it always sounds cheesy to say this, but the people I met there made me feel like a part of their family. Many of my colleagues would even bring in home-cooked food for me to try on my lunch breaks, so I got a real taste of Tex-Mex food. I have been back to visit the friends I made in Texas every year since!

Another significant win for me was the ability to travel around the States so easily. I could catch a flight to Vegas or New Orleans on my days off, as if I was just hopping on a train here, and I got to see parts of the world I never even imagined I would get to see in this lifetime (Yosemite National Park in California being one of the big highlights).

My advice to other students considering completing a placement year would be even if the idea might feel like a huge step outside your comfort zone, I can assure you that what you will get out of the placement year is worth all the initial doubt and fear. I can’t even imagine where I would be in my career now if I had not taken the bold leap. The skills and confidence I gained from both the role and the experience of living abroad have been truly life-changing and have shaped me into a version of myself I never thought I could be. I can guarantee you will surprise yourself and come back a year later feeling proud of what you have achieved".

Please note, this course is no longer available. However, we have similar courses available in Hospitality, Events, Aviation and Tourism.
 

Published 31 July 2024