Placements - the ticket to your chosen career
Please remember that we are here to guide and support you along your placement journey.
Preparation
At the end of your first year you'll be invited to a placement information session which is your chance to start thinking about placement and what jobs you would like to do. The placement support team will advertise vacancies on the student intranet as early as October in your second year.
The placement team is here to help you all year round so please speak to us if you have any questions.
Explore your options
You'll be asked to research what kind of companies, jobs and locations you are interested in. This could be working for the public sector, 5* hotels, food development companies, banks and insurance companies and many more. The placement support team organise presentations with a variety of employers so that you can find out more about their companies and the placement opportunities on offer.
Build your knowledge of subjects and areas of interest
You'll also have the support of an academic placement officer who has a wealth of experience in your chosen subject area. If you want to know more about a certain area of work then you'll have the opportunity to speak to them and ask questions. You'll be briefed throughout your placement seeking year and given guidance about which types of placement opportunities are relevant to your course of study.
Identify your transferable skills
You need to think about what skills you have developed already. These skills don't necessarily have to focus on work experience - maybe you were the captain of the school football team or organised a charity event.
Prepare and develop your CV
When you're looking for a placement you'll need to complete a professional CV. It's important to remember that you are looking for a professional placement and your CV needs to look the part. You'll have help compiling your CV as part of one of your modules, and remember you can always visit the careers service at the University
for additional support and guidance on tailoring your CV to suit specific roles.
Gain valuable job application experience
Finding work is a highly competitive process.
Developing an effective application technique is a valuable skill and will stand you in good stead when applying for graduate opportunities in the future.
Practice your interview skills and techniques
It can be daunting going to interviews so the more you do, the easy it may become. The key to a good interview is preparation - research the company and consider the types of questions the interviewer could ask you. Sheffield Hallam University has a fantastic careers service so please use them when looking for a placement and preparing for applications and interviews.
Work experience
You'll start your placement year at the end of your second year - this could be as early as May. The placement team will be here to support you on your placement year and you will also be allocated a placement support tutor who will visit you at your place of work to ensure everything is going smoothly.
The fee for the placement and for 2010/11 is £655 for any undergraduate sandwich (placement) course.
Put what you have learnt on your course into practice
A placement gives you a fantastic opportunity to broaden your knowledge in a specific area. It will give you a quality learning experience about the culture of work and how organisations operate.
Develop your professional and interpersonal skills
When on your placement you'll be amazed at how your confidence and maturity grows. You'll experience communicating with a wide range of people in a professional environment and will gain a sense of personal achievement and fulfilment.
Consider working abroad
Some of our students complete their placement year abroad and we have contact with a limited amount of employers overseas. There are implications that you do need to consider when going abroad - visas, living costs, relocation costs, full travel and medical insurance. If you're thinking of going abroad you need to think about this early on in your placement seeking year.
Improve your understanding of business
The placement year allows you to be fully involved with the work of an organisation. The employer will provide you with a clear role with your own responsibilities. The employer will be given guidelines and have a responsibility to make sure you are learning as well as your safety while on placement
Enhance your managerial potential
A placement year will enhance your managerial skills - you may be asked to manage staff or take responsibility for a project.
Earn money
Salaries are set by each individual employer and vary according to location, the individual organisation and the economic climate. You will have to pay income tax and national insurance contributions for paid placements
Opportunities and personal development
Completing a placement year will enhance your employability and help you find a suitable job when you graduate!
Use your enthusiasm, motivation, knowledge and skills to succeed
The placement year will be a time for you to shine and succeed. Use the skills and knowledge you have learnt at university to succeed in your placement organisation.
Use your practical experience in your final year of study
Many students find that they use examples from their placement experience within their final year assignments, stating that theory becomes more understandable when put into practice.
Make an action plan and think about where you want to be
It's important that you think about your career progression and what you want to achieve, an action plan can help with this. Give yourself clear guidelines and deadlines to achieve success in your desired career.
Focus - on study, work experience and your career
