If you're studying a sandwich degree (or course), you can do a year-long work placement in an industry related to your degree. For instance, I'm studying Marketing with Public Relations and my placement is as a Marketing and Communications Assistant at the SU!
A placement is a great way to gain hands-on experience and make valuable industry connections. The process can feel overwhelming - balancing uni work with researching companies, tailoring CVs and cover letters, and even practising interview techniques - that's why I'm here to walk you through the steps to finding and securing your ideal placement, and get you ready for when the time comes around.
So, you've just started second year, you're getting back into your uni routine and tutors are already mentioning placements. It might seem a little early to start thinking about this, but you won't be the only one applying for a placement. You may even end up applying for the same placement as someone on your course, so you need to be prepared!
Why should I do a placement?
It's strongly encouraged that you undertake a placement, or some form of work-based learning during your time at university. Doing a placement will give you a clear advantage over the competition when you come to apply for graduate roles.
Additionally, a work placement can often lead to an offer of employment at the same company, meaning a guaranteed job after graduating and, in some cases, the opportunity to work for the company on a part-time basis whilst you complete your studies. You'll also have the opportunity to build your experience and confidence, learn and develop new skills, gain new contacts and form new friendships, all whilst earning a salary.
What is it you want to do or get out of a placement?
Make sure that before you get too stuck into the placement search, you've thought about what it is you really want out of this opportunity. Don't waste your time applying for roles for the sake of it, you're taking a year out of your studies so you want to be certain it's for the right reasons.
- Do you want real-world experience in your area of study?
- Is it to network within the industry?
- Do you want experience working in another country?
- Are you wanting a break from your studies?
- Do you want to work for a larger well-known brand or a smaller local company?
If you're struggling, get in contact with the Careers and Employability Hub. Their job is to support and advise in this area and honestly, I can't recommend them enough. Get booked in and speak with one of the advisers to discuss anything from the kind of placement you're looking for, to interview tips and even practice interviews.
When should I start applying?
Applications for large employment placement schemes can open from September/October - so keep your eyes peeled! Others might not start advertising until mid January onwards, depending on the industry. Vacancies will be released throughout the year, so if you're not 100% sure on the idea of a placement, don't stress. Saying that, definitely start to think about what sort of placement you want and what you've enjoyed on your course up until now, and use that to find similarities in a placement role.
Early bird catches the worm
The earlier you get cracking on your CV and cover letter template, the easier it will be when personalising them to different companies and job roles. The best advice I was given was: 1 - Your work experience should be relevant to what role you're applying for so don't necessarily organise them in date order, get the most relevant experience at the top. And 2 - The cover letter needs to show why you're interested in the company and show how passionate you are about the industry or area of work. This shows the company you've taken your time to research their brand or business and have a real interest.
Handshake, LinkedIn - get your accounts ready!
Handshake is going to be talked about a lot in second year. This is the ultimate careers platform tool and has a wide range of employers both nationally and globally, making it super easy to find the jobs most suitable for you. Employers can even contact you if they think you're a match for a job role they have. Make sure you download the app so you can easily search for the perfect job role!
If you haven't already, make a LinkedIn account asap (and keep it up to date!). Many recruiters use LinkedIn when they're looking to hire someone and they'll be able to see who has the right skills, qualifications, and experience for their business. LinkedIn is basically a digital portfolio employers can access quickly, so you want to make sure it's glowing! On the flip side, it's also incredibly helpful when researching businesses, organisations, and employers to prepare for your interview.
Handshake and LinkedIn were my go-to when job hunting and they helped me secure several interviews as well as my current placement role. There's a whole range of websites you can make accounts on to help you in your job search though, with some aimed at specific sectors. Here are a few extras you might find useful:
Delete those messy TikToks!!
Go through your social media and tidy your pages up, make them private, archive posts - delete some if you have to. Yes, you're allowed to have a social life but employers typically check social media profiles to see if they like what they see - if you don't think an employer would be a fan, get rid.
Careers Fairs: to go or not to go…
Like with most things, there's pros and cons to everything. Careers Fairs host a variety of businesses and it's good to speak with employers about what they look for when hiring. They can tell you what to include and what not to include when it comes to creating and tailoring your CV. A list of attending businesses is also sent out beforehand so if there is a company you have your eye on, this is the best place to network and get contact details from. These fairs can be busy though, so be prepared and presentable (good impressions are key) as you might not get a lot of time to speak with employers.
Don't rule out any businesses, small or large!
When I started the placement hunt, there were no advertisements that appealed to me, so I started contacting local marketing and public relations businesses in and around Sheffield, as well as larger companies in the area that would have a marketing team to see if they had opportunities available, making sure I clearly stated why I'd contacted their business. A few got back to me but a few didn't. Whilst this can make you feel a bit shit at the time, it just means that one wasn't the right fit.
Interview time
Prepare as MUCH as possible for your interview, you don't want to be caught short because you couldn't be arsed to do some basic research on the company you've applied to work for. Practice in front of a mirror, do prep with friends or family, and you should definitely book a 'practice' interview with the Careers and Employability Hub. They will have questions lined up, advise you on the best way to answer certain types of questions, and even send over a run-through of tips and tricks to help you even further.
My main takeaway... when the interviewer asks if you have any questions, be sure to ask what their favourite thing about working there is. This helps leave a good first impression and helps you gain valuable insight into the employer.
I don't have much work experience, what can I do instead?
Don't worry, you won't be the only person in that boat! Consider the skills you've learnt through your education already (communication, team work, problem-solving etc.) or if you have some spare time take part in online courses with 'digital badges' (Google Garage, LinkedIn…). If you're still struggling, focus on the cover letter as this is where you can convince the hiring manager that you would be a better fit for the role than other students.
Every student's placement path will be completely different, so if your coursemates have found one straight away but you're still struggling, you've got time. Don t put too much pressure on yourself as your uni work should take priority at the end of the day, but do prepare yourself for the long haul as this isn't an overnight thing. So, good luck in finding a placement and enjoy what second year has to offer!