University Work Placements

Gaining experience on a work placement year is a brilliant way to help secure a job post-graduation. The experience will ensure you are work ready and a high percentage of work placements get offered a job in the organisation where they do their placement. While some students choose to do their own searching for internships and placements, the process can take more time and energy than many students have available. University Careers departments are a good place to start researching as they will have a great set of contacts from the university’s alumni.

You will earn academic credits whilst getting paid and getting some valuable work experience to add to your CV. It allows you to work with professionals in your field without making a long-term commitment which will give you an advantage over your peers who may not have had the same opportunity or exposure. It also helps you build relationships with key people in your industry that might come in handy when it comes time to look for full-time employment after college. The boost to your CV is going to be more attractive to future employers as you are more work ready when you enter the graduate job market.

Applying for a work placement is similar to applying for any traditional job position. You will need to submit a CV and cover letter or email alongside answering some key competency-based questions and possibly attending an assessment centre. All largely virtual at the early stages of the selection process. Potential employers of work placement candidates are looking for individuals who are aligned with the company values, have done their research and understand the role they are applying for and are clear with what they would like to learn from the program. You can expect to be quite involved in company projects once you are working on your placement.

It is becoming an increasingly popular way to add some real credibility to your studies with more and more undergraduate degrees offering a work placement year. Plan early to know what you would like to do so you can take full advantage of the opportunities offered. If you would like help on what is required of applicants and how best to prepare yourself, speak with us here at Young-Careers.