Business School student completes successful placement at Disney
"If I had to make the choice again, I wouldn't hesitate." That is how Southampton Business School student Jake Gardener summed up a successful year working with one of the most recognised brands in the world.
With his internship at the Walt Disney Company coming to an end, BSc Accounting and Finance student Jake Gardener spoke to the University's Southampton Connects about how valuable the experience was and how he hopes it will give him the edge when entering the graduate job market next year.
Latest figures from the Graduate Market in 2017 High Fliers Report show that numbers of graduate job applications are up by nine per cent compared with the equivalent period in 2015-2016.
As the graduate recruitment market becomes more and more competitive it is essential that Southampton students have a wealth of work experience to evidence key employability skills to future employers.
Along with students independently finding placements, the University's Careers and Employability Service doubled the number of internships it sourced over the past three years with between 400 and 500 students placed every year. In the Business School, the Faculty's Placements Office have helped place around 90 students on a year-long placement in 2017-2018.
Jake, a third-year student, says he found his internship with Disney invaluable and has gained huge confidence in his ability and increased his skill base. "I absolutely wouldn't hesitate to do the internship again, it has been 100 per cent worth it.
"Just getting the experience of being in the workplace has been invaluable, and I also increased my knowledge in a number of accounting tools and systems that will give me transferable skills when I am applying for jobs.
"It has been a great opportunity and one I am really glad I took."
"The whole experience has been fantastic and working for a brand like Disney has given me a good platform for when I am looking for a job as a graduate. Just being in this working environment has given me a real head start. I am really pleased that I have done it as it has given me a huge array of transferable skills in the career I want in the future."
FBLA Placement Advisor Rob Jack, highlights how Southampton Business School students can benefit from completing a placement as part of their degree:
"Placements enable you to experience the pace and culture of industrial practice. Students return from their placement with a deeper understanding of the connection between their studies and business, and use this knowledge to shape their future career plans."
Businesses themselves have also benefited from having an internship placement. They include Churchers Bolitho Way, whose Managing Partner Ian Robinson said: "Our placement student has grown within the role and added value to our team."
Find out more about the FBLA Placements Office
Visit the University's Careers and Employability Service