I want to start off by describing the application process and the stages went through to apply for this role. Considering the circumstances with COVID at the time of applying for placements, I was worried that finding anywhere would be much more difficult than previous years. But, in my process of searching for opportunities, the role of Marketing & Design Assistant at Euro Auctions came up, which happened to be the first opening I applied for.

The first stage was to send off my CV and from there it was just a waiting game if I was to get through to the next stage. I sent my CV to Euro Auctions in January and received a response in early March with an invitation to an assessment night which would take place a week after receiving the email. The email also included excel tasks which were to be completed and returned to HR before the assessment night.

I should also add that I was quite nervous for the assessment night as I didn't know what to expect, so to put my mind at ease I contacted the placement student who was currently in the Marketing team at the organisation. This is something I’d highly recommend for anyone who is going for a placement as it let me have an insight of what working at Euro Auctions was like by asking questions to the student who was getting the experience already.

On the assessment night I completed a short interview with the Marketing Manager and then was given a presentation explaining a little bit more about Euro Auctions. From the moment of walking in through the door I made sure I expressed a good attitude and a positivity throughout. I felt this was important as you never knew who you were walking past in the company or who you were talking to, so it was vital to make a good first impression.

A week later I was invited back to the company HQ in Dromore for a final interview with the General Director of Euro Auctions. In the interview I was mostly asked competency questions on teamwork, communication etc., and also questioned on my past experience within a work environment and extra-curriculars. I was delighted to hear, a week later, that I was accepted by Euro Auctions to take on the role as Marketing and Design Assistant for my placement year and that I would start at the end of June. 

From day one I have been given so much responsibility, more than I would ever have expected in a placement role. A major part of working in marketing is the creation of campaigns. Therefore, a couple of days after beginning my role, I was given my first task. This was marketing the campaign for the Brisbane Auction. As this was my first marketing campaign, I was given a little bit of assistance by an individual on the marketing team on the software that would be used and the process of organising the campaign. To help me throughout the learning stage I kept notes so that when I was doing something by myself I could refer back, but I was never ‘left hanging’ if I didn’t know how to do something.

The marketing campaign for Auctions takes place six weeks prior and the first stage is to book the advertising for the Auction. This involves contacting external companies for advertising the Auction in their magazines, sending emails out to their contacts/subscribers, and requesting to advertise on their social media. Following this, you must keep on top of strict deadlines for when they need the artwork for advertising. Once the booking stage is complete a Brochure needs created, advertising the stock for the Auction. This is done using a creative software called InDesign which was totally new to me going into Euro Auctions but is now a new skill I have developed. The software is used nearly every day to complete advertisement designs and is a skill I will always have going forward with my working career.

Auction Campaigns is not the only tasks that are involved with my Placement. There are also daily tasks such as admin duties to assist with customer queries, monitoring company analytics and there are general duties that need completed daily so I am always kept busy. My worry before starting my placement was that I would get basic and mundane tasks at a big company such as Euro Auctions, but this is certainly not the case. I have been opened to so many different experiences and every day I feel that I am learning something new. This is the perfect position to be in for a Placement.

One of the most beneficial factors for undertaking a placement at Euro Auctions is the responsibility. So far, I have completed marketing campaigns for Brisbane (AU), Dubai (UAE), Zaragoza (ES), Dormagen (DE), and Leeds (GB) Auctions. This is credit to Euro Auctions for creating such a good placement experience, but I also feel it helps when you have a good attitude. From the start I have expressed an open mind through wanting to learn more, which is what placement year is really about - and gaining as many new experiences as possible.

As I approach the halfway mark of my placement, I can confidently say that I have chosen such a great company to be at. Euro Auctions is a massive company, but in many ways they operate as a family organization which is a perfect mix for a placement employer due to the vast experience you gain alongside incredible support from colleagues.

 

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Luke Williamson

BSc Business and Management student

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