Starting my placement year as a Media & Consumer Insights Intern at Sony felt both exciting and a little intimidating. Working in their Pan-European Marketing Communications team within their European headquarters was a big step, and I knew this experience would be invaluable for my future in marketing.

Why I Chose a Placement Year at Sony

Choosing to do a placement year was an easy decision for me- it was a chance to gain a competitive edge before graduating and see how the marketing concepts from my studies would apply in real life. Sony was particularly appealing; it’s a brand I’ve admired for years, from their iconic PlayStation consoles to my personal collection of Sony headphones and cameras. Growing up, Sony was everywhere, and with their products like Sony Ericsson bringing a sense of nostalgia, it felt like a unique opportunity to work with a brand that I already respected and enjoyed.

A Hybrid Role with Daily Insights and Exciting Perks

With a hybrid schedule of three days in the office and two from home, I could plan my week to fit around my tasks. Office days were ideal for important meetings such as weekly agency calls to stay on top of campaigns, data calls to ensure everything was tracking smoothly, and monthly syncs with Sony’s European markets, which we led as the central media team. While remote days gave me focus time for independent tasks. It was a busy routine, but it felt great to be part of such a fast-paced environment.

My day-to-day varied, often involving managing campaigns- especially for Xperia smartphones and occasional InZone gaming brand. This included everything from receiving briefs from our brand marketing team to working with our agency on audience targeting, budgets, and timelines to ensure smooth execution. I also coordinated consumer insights projects to ensure research was executed and findings were delivered to stakeholders, helping inform our strategy. Additionally, I spent time analysing campaign performance data in Excel and using analytics platforms to track engagement metrics, which I presented to senior stakeholders with recommendations for optimisation. These reviews were key to showing how well the campaigns hit their goals and where we could refine our strategies for even better results.

Plus, the role offered some great perks along the way. Regular team-building activities like go-karting, life-size Monopoly, and group lunches helped create a fun, collaborative environment. Team meetings with our agency often ended with lunches at great restaurants, and I even visited Meta’s office representing the mobile category. Attending conferences, including the Influencer Marketing Show and Digital Marketing World Forum, added valuable learning opportunities to my experience.

Overcoming Challenges and Key Tips for Success

Like any new experience, the placement came with its own challenges. Adjusting to the fast pace of corporate life, managing multiple moving parts, and navigating a data-driven, analytical role was initially overwhelming. But persevering through the learning curve made a big difference. Over time, I got more comfortable interpreting analytics and presenting findings. Asking questions and taking ownership helped me grow and become more confident in my role. Staying organised was also essential, especially with several projects running at once. I quickly realised the importance of clear communication, as other teams often relied on updates to complete their parts of a project.

Networking was another major takeaway. Conversations with colleagues beyond work projects were invaluable in shaping my career path, offering insights that helped me understand different roles in marketing. I also found that even senior colleagues were willing to share their knowledge, which encouraged me to ask questions and keep building connections.

Why Future Students Should Consider a Placement Year

For students considering a placement year, I can’t recommend it highly enough. This experience helped me build confidence, sharpen my skills, and clarify my career direction. Working in a dynamic, real-world environment has definitely given me an edge for life after graduation, and it’s an experience I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to kick-start their career.

***

Big thanks to Subear Hersi for this insightful blog!

Subear Hersi is a final-year Marketing Management (BA) student at the University of Westminster, specialising in paid media and consumer insights. He is also the president and co-founder of the University’s Networking Society.

Remember: if you need careers support, your Careers Team is only an email / a message away!

E: careers@westminster.ac.uk| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |Careers Blog