Lizzie’s Questions & Answers

The Basics

Why is a placement or internship so important?

Employability is one of the hottest topics in the world of higher education and graduate recruitment today. Quite simply, for an ever increasing number of employers, a degree is not enough to secure you a graduate position. The need to acquire the relevant employability skills and work experience that recruiters are looking for before you graduate has never been greater and a placement or internship is the perfect way of achieving this.

With record numbers of unemployed graduates and applications per graduate role, recruiters are looking for those students who can differentiate themselves from the rest. A placement or internship provides you not only with the opportunity to apply and develop your skills, but also with the practical examples you’ll need for successful graduate applications and interviews.

Anything else?

As well as improving your employability, a placement or internship provides you with the opportunity to do some research into what a career is really like! It is your chance to find out not only what you might like to do as a future career but perhaps just as importantly, what you don’t want to do!

Studies have continuously shown that if you do a placement or internship you are more likely to obtain a higher degree result. In one study, students with a placement experience had a 39% better degree performance in their final year than those without. And with many employers’ now only accepting applications from students with a 2:1 or above, obtaining a good result in your final year is crucial.

Imagine starting your final year at university knowing you’ve already secured a graduate position? A placement or internship provides you with a foot in the door and the opportunity to meet and network with the people who can shape your future career. Make an impact, exceed expectations and you could be heading back to your final year at university with a graduate job offer already in the bag! Along with this graduate job, you may be asked to promote your employer whilst back on campus to further boost your CV and potentially earn a bit of extra cash. Our On-Campus Promotions arm of the business manages teams of Brand Managers in all years, therefore contact us via OnCampusPromotions.co.uk if you would like to be a Brand Manager!

The Options

There are many different variations of work experience and often no definitive agreement on what some of the terms actually refer to, so it’s understandable that students can get confused.

So, what are the options then?

Placement Years

Also known as: Industrial Placement, Sandwich Year, Year in Industry (and we should add, some employers also rather confusingly refer to them as a year-long internship, so always check!)

These are structured programmes where you spend an entire academic year working for a company as a full-time employee before returning to university for your final year. For a “thick” placement this is in one 12 month block, or for a “thin” placement, it’s in two six month placements. A full-time job means a full-time salary, with the average placement salary of £15,704 per annum, which works out at £302 per week – having said that it can be significantly higher – think investment banking!).

Internships

Also known as: work experience scheme, vacation scheme, summer internship

Generally speaking, internships are formal and structured programmes which typically last for 8-12 weeks over the summer period but can sometimes can be as short as 1 or 2 weeks over Easter or at Christmas. Internships are often used as a way of identifying future graduate recruits and introducing them to the company.

For those of you on straight 3-year degree courses, an internship is the perfect way of gaining the all important work experience and employability skills during your break from university. The majority of summer internships are paid and as with placement years, are the perfect opportunity to impress and line up a graduate position.

Short-term Insight

An increasing number of organisations are running ‘insight’ days or weeks primarily for first year students, however many are open to all undergraduates. Often taking place during the Easter break, these are designed to give you a taster of a particular company or industry and at the same time allow the organisation to identify potential future interns and placement students.

The Search

So, where do I look for a placement, internship or insight then?

Well the fact that you’re on RateMyPlacement.co.uk is a great start! We have the largest database of placement, internship and short-term insight vacancies across a wide range of industries for you to apply for. As the name suggests, you can also read through thousands of student-written reviews on their experiences – providing you with anonymous, honest and independent feedback on exactly how it is!

Alongside the vacancies and reviews, we have expert advice, videos and tools such as your very own application tracking system to provide you with a complete and comprehensive resource to help you find your ideal placement or internship. And it’s all completely FREE of charge! Click here to sign up to your free account.

What about my university?

Find, meet and talk to your university careers and/or department placement office. They will be able to advise you on the type of companies and roles that might be suitable and help you find any relevant and interesting opportunities that you can apply for. University careers and placement advisers have a wealth of experience and will be able to help you with your CV, cover letters and applications.

It is highly likely that your university will also arrange Careers Fairs for you to attend and meet with a wide range of employers and if you’re lucky, you can meet the RateMyPlacement team!

Can you find a placement or internship for me?

RateMyPlacement.co.uk is designed to provide you with all the information, advice and access that you need to find a placement or internship yourself! A good place to start is our Jobs section which includes an ever-updating list of undergraduate placement, internship and insight vacancies for you to apply to!

We are unfortunately not able to get involved with individual requests.

The Application

In theory the application process should be very simple: an employer tells you what they’re looking for, you tell them how you meet those criteria and the employer asks the best candidates back to find out more. What gets in the way though is the confusion over covering letters, CVs and online application forms and, often, some very silly mistakes.

I’ve got to apply with a Cover Letter & CV, help!

The first step is often the covering letter. This is your introduction to the company and the first thing a recruiter will read. In it you should introduce yourself and give three or four reasons why you’re really excited about this opportunity and why you’re perfect for the role. Be polite, but above all, be engaging.

Your covering letter should be enough to get a recruiter to read your two-page document Curriculum Vitae (CV). This sets out a more formal overview of your experiences, qualifications and achievements. Each CV must be different and tailored to the particular job you’re applying for, companies want relevant applications, not generic applications!

Most roles with the big companies require me to complete an online application form?

If you come up against one of these then you should make sure you read the guidelines, these often include maximum word counts – something you should pay careful attention to.

Alongside standard questions about personal details and education background, you will usually be asked to complete a series of questions designed to explain how your skills and achievements make you an ideal candidate for the role.

We recommend that you prepare your answers in a separate document and save them for future use – this will also help with spell check as Online Application Forms often don’t have this functionality! However make sure you don’t just copy and paste your answers into future applications – always ensure you tailor your answers to the specific role and company.

The Assessment Centre & Job Interview

So you’ve made it this far. The fact that you’ve got to the interview/assessment centre stage shows that you have the skills and experiences that the employer is looking for. Now is your chance to impress them face-to-face and secure that placement or internship offer.

What should I do before the assessment centre/interview?

Be Prepared!

One of the first mistakes students sometimes make is not going back over the information that got them through the door in the first place. So read and re-read your CV and application form. It doesn’t look good if an employer has to remind you of what you said on your CV – at the worst it can make you look like you were being generous with the truth.

There’s a fine line between rehearsing and learning answers off-by-heart so that you can only deliver them with the emotion of an android. Speak to your careers/placement office which will give you a head-start on some of the most common interview questions and allow you to practice what you would say in response.

Finally, do your research on the company. Find out as much as you possibly can about the industry, the organisation and the role – be prepared to impress with your knowledge and demonstrate that you really want to work for that particular company, this can often set you apart from the rest.

I’ve never done an assessment centre or had an interview before, can you tell me a bit more about them?

Many organisations now use assessment centres to make their final decision. Whilst they may sound a bit intimidating, with the correct preparation, they are nothing to be feared!

It’s likely you’ll have to attend a company location and join in a schedule of exercises, tests and interviews. Speak to your careers/university office and ask for examples to familiarise yourself with the types of different exercises you may encounter to give yourself a head-start.

There is no secret to doing well at assessment centres and in interviews. You’ve already proven that you have the necessary skills to do the job, now the company just wants to see what your personality is like and how it would fit in with the firm. Ultimately, the best advice is just to be yourself, and when you’re participating in the exercises always remember:

• Be positive
• Listen to everyone and consider all points of view
• Give constructive feedback, never criticise
• Enjoy the exercises
• Relax
• Prepare examples from your own experiences to use
• Ask questions! This is a two-way process, prepare good questions that show you’ve thought ahead and considered potential eventualities

The Job Itself

I’ve landed myself a placement/internship/insight – what tips have you got for me to make the most of my opportunity?

Remember: You’ve Got A Foot In The Door – You’re Not Through Yet

It’s no secret that many employers view placement and internship schemes as ‘extended interviews’, giving them the opportunity to identify future graduate talent. So, it’s essential that you make the most of your opportunity to impress.

Be Professional Throughout Your Placement

It’s vital to remember that you’re not a student any more and you won’t be treated like one either. So, you must quickly adapt and ensure you behave in a professional manner from day one; treat everyone with the upmost respect as you never know who you may meet during your first week!

Learn How To Communicate And How To Listen

A placement or internship provides the ideal opportunity to improve your communication skills. Ask plenty of questions and expect to be communicating with colleagues and customers from a wide range of areas. Your manager should carry out regular one-to-one meetings with you to ensure your progress and development is on track and you should not be afraid to speak up if things aren’t going well or you have any questions.

Make And Take Your Own Opportunities

It’s an obvious statement, but those students who push themselves and get involved as much as possible often get the most out of their placement or internship. Ask good questions, do your upmost to exceed expectations and you’ll not only enhance your own skills and development, but will improve your chances of being asked back into a graduate role.

Meet People, Remember Their Names And Develop Your Network

Ultimately, when it comes to a recruiter deciding whether they want to employ you, it will be influenced by the people you’ve been working with during your placement or internship. This doesn’t mean you have to suck up, but you should be polite and approachable and get to know as many people as possible while you’re on the inside. Take every opportunity to work with as many different colleagues as you can and get involved in activities outside of your normal day-to-day tasks.

Work Hard But Don’t Forget To Enjoy Yourself

No one wants employees who are 100% about work, so socialising with your new colleagues is a great chance for you to impress outside of work and make new friends. Employers are not only keen for you to succeed in your role, but they also want you to enjoy your placement or internship, have a great experience (review your placement well on RateMyPlacement!). Most employers will organise social events to welcome you to the organisation and there are often chances to get involved in sports clubs and events outside of work.

Ask a question!