About Shuetling

Shuetling is a Travel and Tourism student at Swansea Metropolitain University. She worked as a Montage Assistant in the Loire Valley.

Why did you decide to complete your work placement with Holidaybreak?

To gain the experience of working abroad and to learn how to work as part of a team.

I went for the experience mainly, to work in another country and to learn a new language and improve my French! (which I had to use outside the campsite).

What was your position with Holidaybreak during your Work placement?

Montage Assistant (long hours, hard work but enjoyed doing something practical, that I never get the chance to do at home) It was a real shame I didn’t get the chance to become a van driver, especially with my experience from driving on the other side of the road in the US.

What did this role involve?

Setting up all the tents from scratch and cleaning the outside of the holiday homes, the amount we had to do varied from site to site. It’s a lot of hard work at first, high goals set out for you to achieve for the end of the day! My manager and team leader, really helped out by demonstrating how things are set up in a tent/on a campsite.

It does get tiring after a while, as you on some days you are working long hours.

Was this position relevant to your course?

Yes, as I am doing a BS(c) Tourism Management in Swansea Metropolitan University, so knowing where we travel, and watching how the team forms and develops during the 2 months of montage.Â Observing our Montage Team Leader and our Overseas Manager was crucial to my course, to identify the good and bad intentions, and to recognise what needs improving.

What did you learn during your work placement?

How to work with the mobile homes and tents, practically! I’ve improved my French by talking to the local French people (when I’m off camp as well as on camp). I’ve learnt how to be committed and that by working hard, you do get some rewards.

Friends you make on camp look out for you, it’s like being part of a family.

Being in another country, with different people all the time can be hard and can be fun at the same time, it built up my confidence and independence that I never thought I really had as I’m generally a quiet girl.

Is there anything you would tell other students considering a placement with Holidaybreak?

It’s a fun, hard-working experience. It’s good to learn a new language or like me, to improve!

You really learn how to deal with team pressure, especially when things go wrong or have not been done.

It sure beats the UK weather plus you won’t be spending as much money as you would back home!

You’re always learning during Montage, that’s a great thing.