Name:    Faye Stammers

Course: Media and Communications

Placement Company: TLC  Marketing

Placement Job Title: PR and Marketing Executive

Placement length: 1 year (extending my contract for two months over summer because I love it here so much)

Placement company website: http://www.tlcmarketing.com/Market/uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-stammers/

1. What did you find the most helpful in your placement search: University advisors and (then) current placement students. Who better to give you tips than people who had been in your shoes a matter of months before?

2. Three words to describe your placement: Once in-a lifetime (Ok, I hyphenated the ‘in-a’. We all know that’s four words but I’m a young Marketer who’s been taught to break the rules).

3. Most interesting part of your placement: Aside from creating my own email marketing campaigns, writing press releases and all the other classic marketing and PR tasks that are part of the day job, the most enjoyable and quite out of the ordinary task involved inviting The Queen, Gordon Ramsey, Ed Sheeran and Keith Lemon to a celebrity dinner party. Disclaimer: they may have been lookalikes but they’re very convincing.

4. The hardest aspect of your placement: Living away from all my family, boyfriend and friends.

5. The most enjoyable aspect of your placement: Living in London, going to awards ceremonies with work and representing my company at industry events.

6. What have you learned that you never thought you would have this year: I’ve learned that it’s ok to be me. People like and respect you for who you are. Don’t be a fake. Don’t act like someone you’re not to impress others. Be you always and success will come.

7. What gave you the most satisfaction during placement year: Last week, a campaign I was instrumental in got three briefs from some of the biggest brands in the UK. My MD recognised my efforts in a lovely email to my chairman and CEO – I was so excited after reading the email on my commute that I ran home to tell my Grandparents so fast, I probably could have given Usain Bolt a run for his money.

8. Two tips for future placement students: Don’t give up and never dream too big. Doing Media and Communications, I felt so overlooked by companies who wanted people who studied a business related degree. I found TLC Marketing, a renowned, global agency and thought “as if”.  Now, after working my ass off to get this job, I can hands down say I have the best placement in the world.

Actually, three tips – this is very relevant if you want to apply for my role. Do NOT send your CV and covering letter as a word document. Come on, this is one of the best agencies in the world. Grab our attention, show us what you’re made of. Rubbish CV’s won’t even get the time of day.

9. One example of how BU supported you during your placement: Helping me improve my CV during a one-to-one meeting.

10. One example of how your course prepared you for the placement: As cliché as it sounds, it actually gave me great people and presenting skills.

11. How have you changed both personally and professional: My head is so screwed on now both personally and professionally. I try to always be my best self and replicate my goal of being a success both in and out of work.

12. How has your placement helped focus your future plans: My placement has paved the way for the successful future I’m hungry for – I’ve networked with the best out there and I dream of being someone a placement student in ten years looks up to and thinks, “I want to be like Faye one day.”