How my placement set me up for success
- Careers and employability
Here's the thing about sending 500 applications: you only need one 'yes'. And when that yes finally came from Ancestry, I had no idea it would completely change how I saw myself and my career.
If you’ve ever applied for placements or graduate roles, you’ll recognise this cycle instantly. Wake up. Check emails. See nothing. Apply to ten more roles. Receive an automated rejection. Apply to five more. Get invited to an online assessment. Panic. Prepare. Complete it. Never hear back. Repeat.
Some days I’d make it to interviews or virtual assessment centres, joining 20–25 other students from universities across the UK. All of us trying to look confident while silently falling apart inside.
The call that changes everything
The worst part? Every single time I made it to a final round interview, I was terrified. Not the normal "I hope this goes well" nervous but the "I've been rejected so many times that I'm scared to hope" kind of terrified. You start questioning everything. Is my CV good enough? Did I say the wrong thing? Am I even cut out for this? The imposter syndrome hits differently when you've done it so many times and you’re still waiting for that one 'yes'.
Then Ancestry called. Suddenly, every rejection made sense because they led me to the right opportunity.
The overwhelming first week in corporate
The first week of training was intense. University teaches you all the theory and your placement is so important for the reality and it’s a different game.
There are tools I'd never heard of and systems I had to learn from scratch. Processes that made no sense until suddenly they did. People throwing around acronyms like everyone just inherently knows what they mean (spoiler: I did not). I remember sitting in meetings during that first week thinking: should I be taking notes on this? Is this important? Why does everyone seem so comfortable?
Going from structured modules and clear assignments to a fast‑paced, fluid workplace was jarring. Nobody warns you that half of working life is figuring out what your job entails.
When everything started to click
But here's where it gets interesting. Somewhere between the training sessions and the awkward requested to explain something again, things started clicking. The tools became familiar. The processes made sense. The acronyms became part of my vocabulary. I started contributing to meetings instead of just observing them. I stopped waiting for instructions and started taking ownership. That shift felt huge.
My probation review: the moment everything changed
Three months in, I had my probation review and I was nervous. That same fear from all those final round interviews crept back in. What if I wasn't good enough? What if they realised they made a mistake hiring me? What if I was about to get the professional equivalent of another rejection email?
Instead, my manager told me she’d never doubted I wouldn't pass. She was genuinely happy with my work. Really happy. She specifically mentioned that I take ownership of tasks, that I'm proactive, that I manage my workload well. Hearing that felt surreal. Three months earlier she was a stranger interviewing me. Now she was telling me I was exceeding expectations.
Gaining confidence after rejection
That moment did something to me. It wasn't just about passing probation; it was about realising that I'm capable. All those previous rejections, all those moments of doubt weren’t about my worth, but about finding the right fit.
The confidence shift has been wild. At university, I knew how to be a good student – show up to lectures, do the assignments, study for exams, get the grades, but being a good professional is different. At Ancestry, I’ve learned to navigate ambiguity, ask questions, take initiative on projects, speak up in meetings when I have ideas and admit when I don't know something.
Corporate life is not what I expected
Corporate life gets a bad reputation, but my experience has been really positive. Yes, there are deadlines and stressful days, but there’s also something incredibly rewarding about learning real skills, contributing to real projects, and working with people you genuinely like.
The tools, pace, expectations, and environment are different to university – but in the best way. I’m surrounded by experienced professionals who are patient with my questions and other young people figuring things out alongside me. It's this environment where you're pushed to grow but also supported while you do it.
What my placement has taught me
University gave me the fundamentals and the theory. My placement is giving me different things such as professional confidence, understanding of how real businesses operate, the ability to navigate office dynamics and corporate culture and the proof that I can handle more than I thought I could.
Looking ahead with confidence
Now, when I think about graduating and entering the job market properly, I'm not terrified any more. I'm excited. I have real experience to talk about in interviews. I have examples of projects I've owned and tasks I've managed. I have professional references who can speak to my work ethic and I have confidence in my ability to adapt to new environments and learn new systems.
But more than any of that, I have proof, to myself, that I belong here. All those rejections weren't about my worth, they were just about fit. The version of me who sent out 500 applications would be proud of where I am now.
Want to know more about professional placements at Kingston University? Visit our dedicated postgraduate professional placement page.
