My placement year at Samsung

BSc Management with Marketing finalist Charlotte shares her year-long placement experience working at Samsung.

My placement year at Samsung Electronics was one of the most eye-opening, rewarding, and invaluable experiences I’ve ever had. It has helped me grow so much on a personal and professional level, while greatly improving my employability prospects for post-graduation.

Preparing for applications

Before coming to Warwick, I always knew that I wanted to gain employment experience before graduating, and the Marketing pathway helped me to realise I wanted to do a placement year in this industry. Throughout applications, the WBS CareersPlus team provided endless guidance, from CV reviews, psychometric testing workshops, and mock interviews I was filled with much more confidence. Thanks to an event organised by WBS I was also lucky enough to get first-hand insight into careers at Samsung and meet the Emerging Talent Manager which I believe definitely helped me to secure my role!

Getting started at Samsung

My placement began in August, with a two-week onboarding period to learn all the skills needed for the year and to familiarise myself with Samsung (and their amazing offices; from an in-house Starbucks to tasty Korean lunches). My role in the Customer Relationship Management team involved managing Samsung’s daily communications with all registered customers via email, push notifications, and the Samsung Members app. This involved the end-to-end execution of over 300 campaigns - from brainstorming the creative strategy and copywriting, through to audience targeting approaches and post-campaign analysis.

No two days at Samsung were the same and my role gave me a range of cross-functional responsibilities that provided a great overview of the industry and the wider company while collaborating with stakeholders from various backgrounds, divisions, and levels of seniority. I was shocked to see the responsibilities I was given and the way in which I was able to make a real impact on the team and the business as a whole, rather than just being viewed as an intern. Samsung’s #DoWhatYouCant philosophy empowered me to take ownership of a range of opportunities which has helped me to I have become ten times more confident in myself and my abilities.

My favourite campaign

One of the most exciting projects I was entrusted to manage was the Samsung Boost proposition, which provided premium-device owners with app subscriptions at no extra cost! The project involved working with companies such as Disney, Google, and YouTube to create targeted promotional campaigns as part of customers' post-purchase journey. Working on such a fast-paced, challenging campaign enabled me to accelerate my organisation and adaptability skills, which have proven essential in my final year of studies.

Additional opportunities at Samsung

Working for such a large organisation opens up a lot of opportunities beyond the day-to-day business activities. Although it can be daunting, the support from your manager and colleagues allows you to develop your network across the business, helping to build your future employability while adding social enjoyment to your work.

During my placement I was involved in the Women@Samsung group which gave me the opportunity to attend events and presentations hosted at the Samsung Kings Cross Experience store, take part in scheduled coffee chats and ‘lunch and learn’ sessions, while attending fun charity events and much more. This was a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and create an inclusive, diverse culture at Samsung while acquiring professional experiences and skills.

My advice to those looking for work experience

Unsurprisingly, I would definitely recommend a placement year to students. If you do, make sure that you utilise your support network, from the WBS CareersPlus team to your Personal Tutor and the Warwick Alumni network, they provide you with the tools you need for applications as well as your work experience itself. While on your placement I would recommend getting as involved as you can in all elements of the company. Saying yes and giving it your all will help you learn and grow along the way, build new connections, and push you outside of your comfort zone.

Final words…

My placement year at Samsung will be an experience I will never forget - from attending the  Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 | Fold3 gig in London, to launching the latest flagship additions from the Samsung King’s Cross Experience Store, I am so grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

If you want to learn more about Samsung’s Emerging Talent opportunities you can explore more here: https://www.samsung.com/uk/aboutsamsung/careers/emerging-talent/

Find out more about our BSc Management with Placement Year course.