My name is Giang, and I am currently studying MSc International Business Management at the University of Aberdeen. From November 2025 to January 2026, I had the opportunity to work as a Marketing & Brand Visibility Intern with HR Hub Plus Limited through the ABDN Internships Programme.
As a GREAT Scholar at the University of Aberdeen, this internship felt especially meaningful to me. The GREAT Scholarship opened the door for me to study in the UK, and the ABDN Internships Programme helped me take the next step by gaining practical professional experience here. Together, they have made my Aberdeen journey much more than an academic experience. They have helped me grow in confidence, develop my employability, and feel more connected to the wider UK working environment.
HR Hub Plus is a practical HR solutions company that supports small businesses with flexible and accessible HR advice. Before starting the internship, I knew I wanted to gain meaningful professional experience in the UK to understand how businesses communicate value, build trust with clients, and turn ideas into real marketing actions. This internship gave me exactly that opportunity.
Joining a supportive and inspiring team
As an international student, stepping into a UK workplace can feel both exciting and slightly intimidating at first. However, the team at HR Hub Plus made me feel welcomed, trusted and encouraged from the beginning.
Rather than simply observing, I was able to contribute to real work. I supported a strategic marketing and growth project focused on promoting a three-month HR retainer campaign for small businesses. This gave me the chance to see how a service-based business thinks about its audience, develops a message, creates content, and reflects on campaign performance.
What I worked on
A key focus of my work was understanding the needs of small business owners. Many small businesses may not have a dedicated HR department, so their concerns can be very practical: staying compliant, managing staff issues, saving time, and accessing reliable support when they need it. This research helped shape more relevant and approachable marketing messages.
Skills and knowledge I developed
This internship helped me build both technical and professional skills. On the technical side, I gained more experience in audience research, campaign planning, digital content creation, brand messaging, and marketing reflection. I also developed a stronger commercial understanding of how service-based businesses attract, engage and convert potential clients.
On the professional side, I became more confident in communicating ideas, receiving feedback, managing tasks independently, and adapting my academic knowledge to a real business environment. As a student, it is easy to think of marketing concepts mainly through assignments, frameworks and theories. This internship helped me connect those ideas with practical business decisions.
A proud achievement
Completing the internship was a proud moment for me. It represented more than finishing a placement; it showed me how much I had grown during the journey.
I gained international work experience, developed practical marketing skills, contributed to a real campaign, and became more confident in presenting my professional value.
The internship celebration was also a meaningful moment. Holding the certificate reminded me that this seven-week experience had created a long-lasting impact. It gave me not only new skills, but also new confidence, new connections, and a clearer understanding of the kind of professional I want to become.
My advice for future applicants
For students thinking about applying for the ABDN Internships Programme, my advice is simple: apply, even if you are not sure whether you are ready yet.
You do not need to know everything before starting. What matters is being curious, willing to learn, and open to feedback.
When applying, try to show your motivation clearly. Think about what you can bring to the organisation, but also what you hope to learn from the experience. Once you start the internship, take initiative, ask questions, and reflect on your progress. Small tasks can become valuable learning moments if you approach them with the right mindset.
Final reflection
Although my internship lasted only seven weeks, its impact will stay with me for much longer. It helped me gain international experience in the UK, improve my marketing and communication skills, and understand how businesses build trust with their audiences.
Most importantly, it reminded me that growth often happens when we step into new environments and allow ourselves to learn by doing. I am very grateful to HR Hub Plus Limited and the ABDN Internships Programme for giving me this opportunity.
For any student considering an ABDN Internships, I would strongly encourage you to go for it. It may become one of the most meaningful experiences of your university journey.
