Undergraduate: Rachel and Daniella join the Marketing and Communications Team at QBS on Placement
Meet Daniella Kernan and Rachel Fountain, two BSc Business Management students on their 2024/2025 placement year as Marketing and Communications Assistants at Queen’s Business School.
Why did you choose this placement?
Rachel: I’ve always had an interest in marketing and have known since starting my degree this is the route I want to go down for my future career. Being able to get experience in this area of business was important to me when applying for placements, as it would allow me to discover what it would be like to work in marketing and gain experience to help me with future job applications.
Daniella: As soon as I saw this placement advertised, I knew this is something I’d have a keen interest in as I’ve always been curious to see how the world of marketing works and to gain some experience in this field. Also, since coming to university I have struggled to get involved with things going on around the University. As a result of this, I believed this job would be the perfect opportunity to give back to the school and gain some key connections alongside having a chance to network with many different types of people and businesses.
What have been your highlights of placement year so far?
Rachel: I’ve loved being able to meet loads of new people throughout QBS and Queen’s as a whole. As a placement student here, you are truly treated like a valued staff member. It’s been great to build both professional relationships and friendships which will last long after I leave this role. One of my main highlights so far would have to be helping at the 2024 Student Prizegiving event, as it was my first experience at helping with an event and it was so interesting to see the set-up and work that goes into making an event of that scale run as smoothly as it did.
Daniella: For only being here for shortly over two months, I feel as if I have made so many memories here and had many highlights. I believe the main highlight so far has been meeting some of the most welcoming and inspiring people here at Queen’s Business School. Everyone here is concerned with giving the placement students the best possible experience, while also building up our knowledge and growing in our professional career alongside having as much fun as we can.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Rachel: There’s a lot to look forward to in this job as I gain experience and become increasingly confident in my abilities as a marketer, however one of the main things I am looking forward to must be attending the VAVA Awards at the end of September. This is such an incredible opportunity, and as someone with a huge interest in social media marketing and the use of influencers within this industry, it will be an amazing opportunity to network and be immersed in the world I love.
Daniella: Something I have been thoroughly enjoying in this job is I always have something to look forward to, even if that is as simple as a team meeting over a flat white in our Business & Beans Cafe or getting content for our socials at big events like graduation on the main site at Queen’s. The main thing I am looking forward to this year is being able to leave with an abundance of experience, knowledge and contacts, that I didn’t have three months ago. I felt so naive to the world of work before starting here, but I already feel so much more confident in my personal and professional life. I will be privileged to say I already have a full year’s work experience before I have even finished my degree, and I can thank Queen’s Business School for that.
What does a typical day in your role entail?
Rachel: One of the things I love most about working here is that no two days are the same. So far, my days have consisted of using my creativity to make graphics for posts to go up across our social media channels, having meetings with staff from departments all across Queen’s Business School to see how we can help to communicate all the great things going on within the School, and getting stuck in to any opportunities that may arise throughout the day. There’s always projects to get involved with, making every day different yet filled with new activities which have massively helped to give me new skills and connections.
Daniella: One of my main fears before starting this job was that every day was going to look the same and that I was going to be sitting at a desk all day. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. Each morning starts with checking my calendar to see if I have anything scheduled for that day. I manage daily tasks like keeping up to date with our social media platforms and checking inboxes, updating Queen’s Business School’s website, designing posts for our brand and working with many of our colleagues around campus to benefit their work and see how our marketing and communications skills can help get their messages out there.
What do you hope to achieve by the end of placement year?
Rachel: In the two months I’ve been here I can already tell I’m much more confident than when I started, so I am excited to grow within myself even more as this year progresses. Personal growth is one of my main goals for this year, and to push myself out of my comfort zone, so I’m hoping that by the end of my placement year I will have been involved in planning and holding an event within QBS. I would also love to have given presentations in front of either students or an external group of people to boost my confidence with public speaking.
QBS is such a welcoming place to make personal growth and gains, as there are so many opportunities and it’s judgement free, allowing you to fully be yourself. I am so excited to be able to reflect on everything I’ve achieved by the time I reach June 2025.
Daniella: In such a short space of time I believe I have already achieved so much on a personal level like pushing myself outside my comfort zone and even getting some of my ideas and work posted on our social media platforms.
One of my main goals for the year is hosting an event or giving a speech to a large group of people. I would also like to take lead on organising a whole event, I believe it would be a big challenge but something I would get great enjoyment out of and find extremely rewarding. Throughout my time here I am looking to boost my professional profile and add as many valuable experiences as possible.
What is life like as a placement student in Belfast?
Rachel: Belfast is a great city to be living in for your placement as there’s a great work-life balance. QBS is in such a great location, as Stranmillis is full of cafes for lunches with co-workers, Botanic Gardens is a short walk away for some fresh air after work, and there’s always such a nice buzz around.
Daniella: From knowing life in Belfast as a student and now a young professional, I'd have to say I love working here as I have found an ideal work life balance. Belfast has an endless option of activities to do in the evenings after work and at the weekends, such as the local PEC located in the Queen’s Quarter or the vibrant night life in the city centre. QBS is in the heart of sunny Stranmillis, there is loads of nice walks and quaint cafes around this area for lunch.