Student Matthew Thompson completes a placement with SAP

May 24, 2024, by aczht

Placements: Transitioning into the workplace

We have lots of students going out on work placements to gain essential industry experience, enhancing their skills and increasing their employability prospects. The Careers Team have some strong links with some excellent industries to create meaningful placement opportunities, one of which is Systems Applications and Products (in Data Processing) (SAP).

SAP is one of the world’s leading producers of software for the management of business processes, developing solutions that facilitate effective data processing and information flow across organisations. Offering various SAP certification paths, the Business School aligns the most relevant ones with the functional nature of degree courses. SAP is an internationally recognised professional qualification which gives students an advantage in a competitive job market.

One student, Matthew Thompson (BSc Management), gives an insight into his placement and shares some useful strategies to optimise the experience.

Matthew Thompson (BSc Management)

Following completing my second year, I have been a business associate intern for SAP, as a project manager and data analyst. The challenging transition from university to workplace can be difficult to manage but there are ways in which you can make the process smoother, such as going into this experience with an open mind and a willingness to adapt. By taking advantage of advice offered by the university, as well as from your team and colleagues around you, you can feel better prepared for this change, especially when there are many unknowns.

The first step to accepting change is realising that there are going to be uncontrollable situations, but by embracing them you can become more comfortable with them. Knowing how to deal with these situations and how to combat the idiosyncrasies of the unknown will help to overcome obstacles, which is helpful throughout your professional working life. As a person who enjoys structure in my life, I found the process incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, with the idea that you can plan your week, day and even hour allowing me to make the most out of every situation. I have broken down the ability to control this transition into helpful tools that I used to consciously make a positive change in this life experience, and I would like to share them with you.

Mindset:

Only you can make the transition from university to job a favourable one. Don’t believe that simply because you understand what is going on in the real world conceptually, it directly relates from academia to the job. As operational practices differ between businesses, it is critical to be open to modifying your views on how things should be performed. This is also important when changing jobs or collaborating with other organisations. Try to absorb as much knowledge and information as possible through active listening and continually questioning why. In doing so, you are better positioned to truly ascertain the directions you should take and determine the next steps for execution.

Creating the right environment:

To ensure you can work to be best of your ability and feel comfortable in your ability to impact the business, the importance of creating the right environment for you is extremely important. This involves concentrating on what is important to you and establishing a dedicated support network around you to help your development. The individuals who surround you can have a significant impact on the success of your development and enable you to feel at ease in your role. This will enable you to feel at ease in your role in various ways, such as helping to connect with colleagues who can contribute to your projects, assisting you in navigating company tools, and explaining the company’s culture and its endeavours. That said, it is still fundamental that you dedicate time to yourself so that you avoid burnout and ensure you strike a balance between work and personal life. This might range from having access to exercise to joining a club, socialising or, as simple as relaxing to music.

Stay inquisitive:

Working for any company could prove challenging to fully comprehend the scope of what the organisation strives to accomplish. Working for an international market leader the size of SAP, a company comprised of approximately 110 thousand employees worldwide, could at first be intimidating. However, viewing the company as many smaller areas and lines of business simplifies the goal of comprehending the aims of each team to discover the firm’s unified direction. Questioning colleagues in different sectors of the business will not only broaden your network but also provide you with advice and insight into alternative points of view. Never stop being curious, ask questions and introduce yourself, such as discussing with colleagues another individual’s role or introducing yourself to the CEO. As a member of SAP, an enterprise software and Artificial Intelligence company, it’s important for my development, and all experience levels, to constantly keep learning to stay ahead of the rapidly changing environment. There is always something to learn from others, especially as you work with a diverse set of colleagues on global projects, who each have different professional and life experiences from yourself.

In summary, embrace the changes and enjoy the journey through the process of transition from university into a placement opportunity. Do not put pressure on yourself to transition from university easily or quickly as it takes everyone a different amount of time to adapt to this change, just like starting university. Find the positives in small achievements of the day and set yourself achievable goals, which set you up in a successful direction post-placement as you return to university and prepare to excel with what comes next.

Placements at Nottingham University Business School

A placement year is available to most undergraduate students studying at Nottingham University Business School, allowing you to gain essential industry experience before graduating.

Find out more about our undergraduate placement year and other students talking about their experiences.

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