As part of my placement year at SilverDoor, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a week working in the Madrid office, swapping the London headquarters for the sunny Spanish capital!
From working with a different team to experiencing a new city and culture, the week challenged me in the best way possible. It helped me develop creatively, build confidence and gain a fresh perspective as a graphic design placement student.
Here are the top seven things I learnt from my secondment …
1. Adapting quickly to new environments
Starting a working week in a completely different country was exciting but unfamiliar at first. However, as soon as I stepped into the office, the Madrid team were incredibly welcoming and made settling in easy.
From adjusting to an alternative way of working to simply figuring out my surroundings, the experience taught me how important adaptability is. It helped me become more confident and open-minded in unfamiliar situations, including quickly learning that in Spain, dinner at 10pm is completely normal!
2. Communicating and collaborating with new people
Collaborating with new colleagues from different departments and professional backgrounds pushed me to communicate more clearly. Spending time with the Madrid team showed how much easier networking becomes in person; face-to-face conversations helped build stronger relationships and made collaboration feel far more natural. At the same time, I was still working closely with the design team back in England, which taught me how to communicate effectively both remotely and in person. I also experienced the secondment alongside fellow placement student Taj, who is based in Lancaster, which provided an exciting opportunity to further build connections across offices.
3. Making the most of my time
Going into the secondment, I wanted to make the most of every opportunity. Alongside my usual graphic design tasks, I also took on additional creative responsibilities.
During the week, I photographed the Madrid team, captured new starter headshots for the recently launched website and created photo and video content to support future marketing projects. It gave me the chance to expand my skill set and build confidence by directing people during shoots, something I hadn’t done much of before. Taking on these tasks also taught me how important organisation and time management are when balancing multiple projects.
Between trying Madrid’s food spots, visiting museums, wandering through busy streets (and somehow still finding time for shopping) I learned how to balance work while fully experiencing a new city and culture.
4. Appreciating that inspiration comes from everywhere
Madrid itself was incredibly inspiring. From the architecture and colours to the branding and advertising across the city, creativity was everywhere.
Visiting the Reina Sofía and Prado museums was a real highlight. Experiencing a different creative environment gave me a fresh perspective and sparked new ideas that I could bring back into my own work.
5. Learning how international experience makes a real difference
I came back from the secondment with stronger professional skills and a much broader perspective. It gave me a better understanding of how international businesses operate across different offices and countries, and how important collaboration is within a global company like SilverDoor.
Working closely with both the Madrid and UK teams showed me how connected different offices are and how much teamwork goes into keeping projects and communication running smoothly across locations. Having the opportunity to experience this first-hand was hugely beneficial because it gave me real insight into international working environments.
6. Discovering more about myself and my career goals
The experience helped me think more seriously about my future career. Combining graphic design, photography and content creation throughout the week showed me how much I enjoy creative roles that allow me to work across different areas and connect with people.
As a placement student, opportunities like an international secondment are incredibly valuable because they give you real insight into the kind of work and environments you enjoy most. Spending time in a different office and collaborating with new teams helped me develop both personally and professionally, while giving me a clearer idea of the direction I’d like to take in my career; working in a people-first, collaborative environment with opportunities to develop my creative skills.
7. Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you grow
From navigating Madrid to adjusting to a different office and way of working, the secondment encouraged me to become more independent and adaptable. Over the course of the week, I became more confident in handling new challenges, asking questions and figuring things out for myself. It showed me how much personal and professional growth can come from stepping outside your usual routine and trying something different.
My week in Madrid was a brilliant opportunity to grow professionally, gain confidence, meet amazing people and experience a completely different culture. As a placement student, having the chance to take part in an international secondment this early in my career was incredibly valuable. It’s an experience I’ll continue to learn from throughout my future career!
My SilverDoor placement year has been full of fantastic opportunities and this was certainly a highlight! Take a look at the SilverDoor Academy to see how a placement year can kickstart your professional career.
