8 September 2023
The Student Placement Survival Guide
Placements are a lot like potted plants. Give them time, care and attention, and they will grow into something spectacular.
We’ve put together this survival guide to help you on placements and make sure your experience is as fruitful as a particularly fruitful tomato plant.
How do I prepare for a student placement?
In all honesty, there isn’t a set way to do this.
Outside of all the admin and contract signing, the best way to prepare is to adopt a positive mind-frame. A positive mind-frame means you’ll work better and get the most out of your placement.
Be excited! You’re about to embark on the beginning of your potential career.
Do your research
You would’ve done some research before applying for your placement. But it’s always an excellent idea to do some more. This is the only time Insta-stalking is allowed!
It’s much better walking into a new work environment knowing more about the company you’ll be working for. It’ll give you confidence and get you off to a good start.
Researching shows you have an interest in the business. It might give you an insight into what you’ll be doing there too. So read up on current projects, competitors, industry associations and press releases to get an idea of innovations and key company milestones.
All these will prepare you for your interview – especially when the inevitable ‘Why do you want to work for our company?’ question comes up.
Know your rights!
Did you know that placement students get the same working rights as those in full-time employment? Well, you do now! These include:
- A monthly salary
- Holiday entitlement (20 days at least, plus bank holidays)
- Sick pay
On top of that, you’ll have wellbeing rights too.
Universities and placement providers have been working together to create a checklist that supports students heading off on their placement year, ensuring they are well looked after – before, during and after their programme. So not to worry. You’re in safe hands.
Citizens Advice Bureau has some great, no-nonsense information too.
Think about the long term
Yes, your placement will help you gain valuable experience – but where do you want this to take you? Before you start, think about what you want to get out of your time there:
- Want to make loads of contacts?
- Have a better sense of the industry?
- Attain professional goals?
You’ll likely have 1-2-1s or goal-setting meetings with your manager. These meetings will help to focus your aspirations and are a fantastic opportunity to ask questions.
If you don’t have a long-term plan yet, that’s okay. Your future goals will become a lot clearer as you settle into your placement.
Expect to be given responsibilities, and lots of them
Make sure you work hard from day one!
It sounds scary, but the more you get stuck in and show your willingness to learn, the greater your impression on the team and managers.
Want to come back and work as a permanent member of staff after you graduate? Now is the time to show everyone what you’ve got.
Don’t worry, you’ll get all the support you need to get the job done.
Online might be king, but stationary will forever be queen
Don’t you hate it when you can’t find that one biro you stashed at the bottom of your bag?
Invest in a notepad, a pencil case, and pens. LOADS OF PENS. You’re going to be absorbing a lot of information and probably won’t have the luxury of typing notes into your phone.
Also, any notes you take will totally come in handy when it comes to your last year at uni and, who knows, your future career.
If at first, you don’t succeed, try again
It’s as simple as that. Remember, you’re there to learn. It’s okay to get things wrong sometimes.
If you feel that something hasn’t gone right, don’t pretend it didn’t happen – discuss it with your line manager or a more experienced colleague.
Just try not to break anything.
Ask questions
NEVER be afraid to ask questions.
Anything you don’t understand, anything you need – ask.
Especially on your first few days. Nosiness is your pal and will help you out massively.
Get to know your colleagues, and let them get to know you
You’re going to be around them for a year. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself.
If you get an invite to a team lunch, attend!
After work drinks, attend!
Work-related fun activities, you already know – attend!
Colleagues aren’t just temporary acquaintances. Think of them as contacts. One day they could help secure you a job.
It also helps to be kind. So smile and be friendly.
Sleep better, work better
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Sure, Jan.
Honestly, a good sleeping pattern makes a huge difference in productivity and mental wellbeing.
It’s natural to want to impress and go above and beyond, but that should never be at your own expense. You’ll burn out quickly.
Learn to switch off at the end of the day. If you’re working in an office, try not to take your work home with you. When you’re working from home, close that laptop and put it away. Cook something, watch Netflix, relax!
Find out who your mental health contacts are
Around 914,000 people suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2021/22.
That’s a lot of people.
Find out who your mental health contacts at work are. If you find that you are struggling at any point, know that you aren’t alone and there are people out there to help.
Working from home
If you’re working remotely or from home, a designated space and routine will be your best friend. While it’s tempting to live that ‘working from my bed’ fantasy, ultimately – it’ll begin to affect both your work and your sleep.
Pick an area in your home that inspires you and work from there. If not – the dining table is always a good shout. Or a sturdy desk and chair set up.
Follow this routine and you’ll be way more productive.
- Wake up at a specific time
- Make yourself breakfast
- Grab a coffee
- Get ready for the day
How can I impress on my placement?
Overall, you want to be a yes person while knowing your limits.
Don’t be afraid to get stuck in, trying out areas in which you might not usually be involved in.
Above all, remember you’re watering the roots of a career that’ll ultimately blossom.
So go for it!
Written by Melchi
Melchi is a stan of the written word and joined the RateMyPlacement team as a Content Executive in 2021. Melchi started his career writing culture content for WeAreCollision magazine before completing an MA in International Journalism at City University and interning at Insider Inc. He now uses his head-thesaurus to write inspiring content to help young people make great career choices. These include everything from blogs about how to survive your placement year to industry guides outlining the latest placement and internship opportunities. Outside of writing, Melchi loves all things music and is currently learning how to DJ.