How I secured a placement year

Hi, I'm Palak. I'm in my third year of BSc (Hons) Business and Management, and I'm currently undertaking an industrial placement year.

Getting to grips with a placement year

I'm an international student from India, and before coming to the UK, I didn’t know what a placement year entailed. However, after speaking to the Career and Employability Services, I understood how much value a placement year could add to my degree. Moreover, it felt like an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in my field of study and get paid while I'm at it.

You have to search and apply for industrial placements externally yourself. It can be challenging when you’ve never applied for jobs.

This was my situation, but I asked for help from the amazing staff and support network in the Career and Employment Services. They assisted me greatly with my applications, CV, cover letters, mock interviews, assessments, and onboarding. I am eternally grateful for this University service, which, surprisingly, many students don’t know about.

After submitting over 50 applications, I secured three interviews and chose the one that resonated most with my goals. I am now proudly working as a placement student in HR and recruitment.

Here are my tips

Start early

Ideally, you should begin applying for internships, placement years or graduate roles at the start of your academic year.

For example, if you want to do an internship in your second-last year, you should start applying around August-September to secure a role by the following summer. Similarly, for graduate jobs, you should begin applying in August-September (at the start of your final year).

I think this is where some students go wrong. Many don’t realise that applying, interviewing and onboarding is a lengthy process.

Get your application reviewed

I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking support.

As university students, we have access to so many resources that we’re sometimes unaware of. Have your CV, cover letters, and applications looked over by the Career Service. I assure you – this can significantly improve the quality of your applications.

I'd also recommend booking meetings to practice your interviewing skills so you can make mistakes and learn from them in a safe space.

Be patient

Applying for jobs is a lengthy process.

Many companies may not reach out for weeks or even months regarding the outcome of your application. Create a spreadsheet to track prospects and record every application you submit and its outcome.

Reflect

If you receive a rejection, don’t feel dejected. Reflect on what may have gone wrong and, if necessary, seek help again.

Network

Speak to your lecturers, people on LinkedIn, or friends and family working in your field to learn more about the industry. Understand the day-to-day and build a strong foundation of knowledge to feel confident in your applications and interviews.

If there’s one thing you can take away from this blog, it’s that if you’re considering a placement year – DO IT! Start applying and expand your options, since a placement year provides real-world work experience that builds numerous skills and boosts your employability.

Ready for your future?

Discover opportunities and land a placement.

Explore the support on offer from the Career and Employability Services.