Industry placements can be one of the most valuable experiences you take on during your degree. Regardless of what course you’re on, spending time in a real-life professional environment teaches you lessons that the classroom cannot replicate.
Having industry experience can give you further insight into the career you want to do, build your confidence in the skills you’ve learnt on your degree as you apply them in a professional environment, and it can boost your CV for other future employers.
Over the last year I have completed work placements with Hits Radio Manchester, the Manchester Evening News and more.
Each placement has taught me something different and given me insight into the industry, that has been extremely useful as I begin to seriously consider my next steps for after university.
So here is my guide to how you can secure your dream placement and get the most out of work experience!
How to secure yourself work experience
Dependent on the field you’re looking into, the processes may differ slightly. Some placements at highly competitive organisations may require applications and interviews, whereas others may simply require a CV or portfolio. The most important thing to remember when trying to secure a work placement is to show initiative. Doing that extra research to be able to reach out to the right contacts and tailoring your CV to the company you’re trying to gain experience from can be what sets you apart from the other students enquiring.
When looking for placement opportunities, try to think outside of the box. Smaller companies mean smaller applicant pools- and a better chance of getting noticed. It can also mean that during your placement you can gain more personal experience and work closer with the team. Alternatively, when trying to gain industry placements at bigger organisations you can increase your chances by using relevant contacts. Speaking to your lecturers about work placement opportunities can be beneficial as they can point you in the right direction. For many courses, opportunities are often posted on Blackboard so it is a good idea to keep your eye out for announcements that may interest you. LinkedIn is also another valuable tool for creating connections with industry professionals and allows you to directly message people who work in the spaces you want to complete work experience in.
Things to remember for your first industry placement
Going on your first industry placement can be daunting as you don’t know what to expect or how things will go, but here are some things to remember that may ease your nerves:
- Everyone there has had their own first day. Those now working full-time in the role you aspire to have were also once just starting out, so they know exactly how it can feel to be new and inexperienced.
- You are there to learn. Asking questions and even making mistakes during placement can be what makes it a valuable experience. No one expects you to go in there knowing everything so take advantage of being surrounded by professionals who can give you insight.
- You were selected for a reason. It can be easy to fall into the trap of imposter syndrome when surrounded by industry professionals, but you must remember that someone in that team believed you were the right fit and would benefit from the experience.
Key takeaways from a successful placement
For a placement to be successful the most important thing is for you to have learned from it. Whether that is learning that you would like to work at that company in future, or learning about a new job role you didn’t know existed, or even simply learning that you are capable of more than you think. Gaining these experiences are what shape you as a prospective job candidate and can be what makes the transition from university student to full-time employment all the more smoother.
For any more careers advice or questions you might have on industry placements, get in touch with the University of Salford careers team via email at careers@salford.ac.uk or take at look at their website: Careers | University of Salford