Keeping Retail Running: A Year in Tech at IKEA
Hi everyone, I’m Aura, a final-year Computer Science student at the University of Staffordshire. After completing a year-long rotational placement at IKEA as a Technical Support Specialist, followed by a summer internship at Barclays as a Cyber Analyst, I returned to my final year with a lot more clarity about my career path. If you’re considering a placement, applying next year or simply curious about working in retail IT and cyber security, here’s an overview of what my experience looked like...
What does an average day on placement look like?
No two days were the same and that was one of the best parts.
In my first rotation within Information Security, the week typically started with team check-ins discussing security events, emerging cyber threats, and industry developments. From there, my days varied between conducting research, completing Data Privacy Impact Assessments with external stakeholders and contributing to AI compliance projects.
In the IT Support Rotation Later in the year, my role became far more operational and involved a lot of travel. I worked across sites including Reading, Wembley, Southampton and many more! A typical day involved reviewing IT tickets during train journeys, troubleshooting technical issues and ensuring systems were restored quickly. There’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing immediate impact when systems come back online.
In my final rotation, I focused on project delivery, organising stakeholders, tracking deliverables and managing communications across departments. While each role differed, teamwork remained central throughout. Regular check-ins, cross-team collaboration were all essential.
One of My Favourite Projects
A standout experience was leading the Cisco decommission. Our team replaced and later I decommissioned over 90 network switches across multiple stores. This involved overnight work to avoid disruption, securely wiping devices, processing RMA and ensuring compliance with security standards. The objective was to improve infrastructure security and strengthen store connectivity for better long-term resilience. I managed the full decommissioning process including identifying additional legacy equipment that had not been previously accounted for. It was demanding but extremely rewarding. I also contributed to AI security training sessions for other departments, educating teams on AI risks and responsible usage!
Why I Recommend a Rotational Placement
If you’re unsure about your long-term career, a rotational placement is your calling. It allowed me to explore project management, IT support and cyber security within one year. By the end of the placement, I knew that cyber was the right path for me and it directly contributed to securing my internship and graduate role. You gain practical experience that genuinely makes you stand out from other graduates.
I was even invited to help organise and support the next assessment centre for incoming placement students. Seeing the recruitment process from the other side gave me insight into what companies truly look for!
How My Degree Prepared Me
My course provided strong theoretical and practical foundations. Modules covering disaster recovery, cyber law and risk management directly translated into placement tasks. Writing disaster recovery plans as coursework made similar workplace responsibilities far less intimidating. I also developed cross-disciplinary knowledge in databases, networking, software development. This helped me collaborate effectively across departments and evaluate new technical solutions from a security perspective. Certifications and technical exposure during my degree including Linux Essentials (which I became certified in!), Cisco networking (towards CCNA), and foundational knowledge aligned with Security+ strengthened my CV significantly. The university careers, employability and placements team helped me greatly too.
How My Placement Prepared Me for Final Year
Returning to university with industry experience changed my mindset. I now approach assignments with applied thinking and understand how organisations operate. Importantly, I returned with a secured graduate role and a clear direction for my final-year project, aligned with real industry needs.
My Advice for Future Student
1. Prepare the Year Before
Start early... ideally at the end of first year or the beginning of second year. Placement recruitment moves quickly and many large companies open applications in September. Speak to your university careers team before applications open. Get your CV reviewed properly. Ask for feedback on it too. Make sure you understand what roles actually involve not just the title.
Research industries in advance. No matter what you're interested in, learn what entry-level placement roles look like in those areas. Preparation reduces panic when applications open. Use mock interview platforms, CV tools like CV360 and practice assessment centre tasks early. Don’t wait until you’re invited to start preparing.
2. Set Structured Time Aside to Apply
Second year becomes intense very quickly. Assignments, coursework and exams will compete for your attention so block out a fixed time. Applications take longer than you expect when done properly. Avoid mass-applying without tailoring. Recruiters can tell. Instead: adjust your CV for each role, mirror language from the job description, emphasise relevant modules or projects and demonstrate measurable outcomes where possible. Quality can outperform volume. Strategic applications led me to multiple offers!
3. Master the Assessment Process
Placements often involve: online tests (numerical, situational judgement, logical reasoning), AI video interviews, assessment centres, presentations and group tasks. Practice your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) with a focus on what you did and what changed because of you.
Work on your communication. Record yourself answering questions. Improve pacing and body language. Confidence can come from repetition, it's normal to prep.
4. Attend Events and Build Connections!
I secured my placement after speaking to a recruiter at a university careers fair. That conversation gave me context and confidence when applying. Do attend careers fairs, insight days, networking events and webinars.
Use platforms like Bright Network and LinkedIn. After speaking to recruiters, follow up! Mention conversations in applications where appropriate too as networking is not about asking for jobs, it's about connections.
5. Track EVERYTHING
Create a spreadsheet including: company name, job title, deadlines, stage reached, notes from interviews too. Recruitment cycles overlap and without tracking, it becomes confusing quickly. Organisation also reflects professionalism. When recruiters call unexpectedly, you should immediately know which role they are referring to.
Extra Tip!
You will likely face rejections. Almost everyone does, I know I faced many. Do not interpret rejection negatively. Recruitment is competitive and often influenced by timing, headcounts and many more external factors. Do request feedback where possible, identify patterns and keep improving. Resilience is just another part of professional development.
So… Should You Do a Placement?
YES! You graduate with a year of industry experience before most of your peers. More importantly, you gain confidence and knowledge that cannot be replicated in any lecture hall. Use the opportunity to explore departments, pursue certifications, ask questions, understand how large organisations function behind the scenes. Retail IT alone involves complex infrastructure supporting thousands of customers daily from distribution centres to in-store networks.
Your contributions matter. A placement year is not just about learning; it’s about discovering how you add value. Be inquisitive, perhaps you might learn a thing or two about how your nearest distribution centre works and hidden tech that keeps it running for thousands of customers worldwide! Any opportunity not taken is an opportunity missed.
What does an average day on placement look like?
No two days were the same and that was one of the best parts.
In my first rotation within Information Security, the week typically started with team check-ins discussing security events, emerging cyber threats, and industry developments. From there, my days varied between conducting research, completing Data Privacy Impact Assessments with external stakeholders and contributing to AI compliance projects.
In the IT Support Rotation Later in the year, my role became far more operational and involved a lot of travel. I worked across sites including Reading, Wembley, Southampton and many more! A typical day involved reviewing IT tickets during train journeys, troubleshooting technical issues and ensuring systems were restored quickly. There’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing immediate impact when systems come back online.
In my final rotation, I focused on project delivery, organising stakeholders, tracking deliverables and managing communications across departments. While each role differed, teamwork remained central throughout. Regular check-ins, cross-team collaboration were all essential.
One of My Favourite Projects
A standout experience was leading the Cisco decommission. Our team replaced and later I decommissioned over 90 network switches across multiple stores. This involved overnight work to avoid disruption, securely wiping devices, processing RMA and ensuring compliance with security standards. The objective was to improve infrastructure security and strengthen store connectivity for better long-term resilience. I managed the full decommissioning process including identifying additional legacy equipment that had not been previously accounted for. It was demanding but extremely rewarding. I also contributed to AI security training sessions for other departments, educating teams on AI risks and responsible usage!
Why I Recommend a Rotational Placement
If you’re unsure about your long-term career, a rotational placement is your calling. It allowed me to explore project management, IT support and cyber security within one year. By the end of the placement, I knew that cyber was the right path for me and it directly contributed to securing my internship and graduate role. You gain practical experience that genuinely makes you stand out from other graduates.
I was even invited to help organise and support the next assessment centre for incoming placement students. Seeing the recruitment process from the other side gave me insight into what companies truly look for!
How My Degree Prepared Me
My course provided strong theoretical and practical foundations. Modules covering disaster recovery, cyber law and risk management directly translated into placement tasks. Writing disaster recovery plans as coursework made similar workplace responsibilities far less intimidating. I also developed cross-disciplinary knowledge in databases, networking, software development. This helped me collaborate effectively across departments and evaluate new technical solutions from a security perspective. Certifications and technical exposure during my degree including Linux Essentials (which I became certified in!), Cisco networking (towards CCNA), and foundational knowledge aligned with Security+ strengthened my CV significantly. The university careers, employability and placements team helped me greatly too.
How My Placement Prepared Me for Final Year
Returning to university with industry experience changed my mindset. I now approach assignments with applied thinking and understand how organisations operate. Importantly, I returned with a secured graduate role and a clear direction for my final-year project, aligned with real industry needs.
My Advice for Future Student
1. Prepare the Year Before
Start early... ideally at the end of first year or the beginning of second year. Placement recruitment moves quickly and many large companies open applications in September. Speak to your university careers team before applications open. Get your CV reviewed properly. Ask for feedback on it too. Make sure you understand what roles actually involve not just the title.
Research industries in advance. No matter what you're interested in, learn what entry-level placement roles look like in those areas. Preparation reduces panic when applications open. Use mock interview platforms, CV tools like CV360 and practice assessment centre tasks early. Don’t wait until you’re invited to start preparing.
2. Set Structured Time Aside to Apply
Second year becomes intense very quickly. Assignments, coursework and exams will compete for your attention so block out a fixed time. Applications take longer than you expect when done properly. Avoid mass-applying without tailoring. Recruiters can tell. Instead: adjust your CV for each role, mirror language from the job description, emphasise relevant modules or projects and demonstrate measurable outcomes where possible. Quality can outperform volume. Strategic applications led me to multiple offers!
3. Master the Assessment Process
Placements often involve: online tests (numerical, situational judgement, logical reasoning), AI video interviews, assessment centres, presentations and group tasks. Practice your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) with a focus on what you did and what changed because of you.
Work on your communication. Record yourself answering questions. Improve pacing and body language. Confidence can come from repetition, it's normal to prep.
4. Attend Events and Build Connections!
I secured my placement after speaking to a recruiter at a university careers fair. That conversation gave me context and confidence when applying. Do attend careers fairs, insight days, networking events and webinars.
Use platforms like Bright Network and LinkedIn. After speaking to recruiters, follow up! Mention conversations in applications where appropriate too as networking is not about asking for jobs, it's about connections.
5. Track EVERYTHING
Create a spreadsheet including: company name, job title, deadlines, stage reached, notes from interviews too. Recruitment cycles overlap and without tracking, it becomes confusing quickly. Organisation also reflects professionalism. When recruiters call unexpectedly, you should immediately know which role they are referring to.
Extra Tip!
You will likely face rejections. Almost everyone does, I know I faced many. Do not interpret rejection negatively. Recruitment is competitive and often influenced by timing, headcounts and many more external factors. Do request feedback where possible, identify patterns and keep improving. Resilience is just another part of professional development.
So… Should You Do a Placement?
YES! You graduate with a year of industry experience before most of your peers. More importantly, you gain confidence and knowledge that cannot be replicated in any lecture hall. Use the opportunity to explore departments, pursue certifications, ask questions, understand how large organisations function behind the scenes. Retail IT alone involves complex infrastructure supporting thousands of customers daily from distribution centres to in-store networks.
Your contributions matter. A placement year is not just about learning; it’s about discovering how you add value. Be inquisitive, perhaps you might learn a thing or two about how your nearest distribution centre works and hidden tech that keeps it running for thousands of customers worldwide! Any opportunity not taken is an opportunity missed.
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