Name: Amanda Astrop
Job Title: Marketing Assistant
Recruitment Function: Commercial
Degree Course: BA Business Studies
University Attended: Northumbria University
Current Business Unit: Corus Northern Engineering Services
Location: Teesside
Joined Corus: June 2007

Why did you choose to work for Corus?

Having studied in marketing for 2 years on my degree, I was looking forward to a position that would put all the theory I have been learning into practise, which this job advert seemed to do. What attracted me most was the opportunity to work in such an international, multi-disciplined organisation, with so many people to learn from. I was looking forward to a new challenge in business-to-business marketing.

What does your current role involve?

My day-to-day activities range from organising exhibitions and corporate events to ordering Corus merchandise and database management. There is some travel involved in my job as I travel to exhibitions and to Scunthorpe and Workington regularly for meetings and updates on our business division. Projects such as organising exhibitions can take weeks to get everything designed, ordered and planned in time for the show.

What training have you received since joining Corus?

On induction I received a training day to show the plant and give me first hand experience of the steel making process. This was a very interesting day, while getting to know some of the other placements students. Since then I have been taken round the Teesside, Workington and Rotherham sights to see different stages in the process and to see, learn and experience what I am marketing.

Please describe development opportunities you have had since joining Corus?

Since joining the Corus placement scheme, I have a short portfolio to fill out to help me record and realise what skills I am developing and practising. It helps as when you work, you rarely stop to think what skills you use everyday and what your abilities are. I do this with my manager to keep us both updated on how I am doing and what skills I need to develop further.

What are your future career aspirations?

After working on this industrial placement, I would like to join the Corus graduate scheme. I know now that I want to work in marketing and aspire to work in a high level marketing management position.

Do you have any hints/tips/advice you would give to someone applying to Corus:

I would definitely advise people to apply for a job in Corus. From working in such a multi-national company, you can learn from people’s experiences and advise. I would advise possible applicants to learn more about Corus before applying as it can take a while to learn all the different divisions and what they do. Corus is so much more than Steel.

Tell us something about your business unit location:

The Teesside location was ideal for myself as it is relatively local. As from Nov 2007 a Teesside magnet group has been created for the Teesside placements/graduates. This is good news, as the Scunthorpe group seems to have helped create a friendly student population and hopefully the Teesside group can do the same, as there are a large number of graduate and placement students in the Teesside area.