The adage “you get out what you put in” rings true for placement year positions but the reality is; it’s more complicated than that. To get the most out of your placement year it’s important you choose a firm wisely, make your presence felt and exploit opportunities.
Taking a placement position means you’re investing in yourself. To do so to the full you need to back yourself. Yes, be confident and work hard but above all prove willingness, even in the recruitment process and look to enhance your role. Don’t fall in to the trap of doing one thing well or working within a narrow framework for a year.
Even if a placement position is temporary don’t accept that you have to stay at the bottom of the ladder. There are ways to take on challenges higher up the ladder, change ladders or at the very least; witness what’s happening beyond the reach of your skills or knowledge.
1. Identify software or technology used in your chosen field or by people doing the role you want.
Be open with recruiters and Supervisors; make it clear you want access to software, technology, or systems in order to put any theoretical knowledge you have gained in your studies to the test. Throw yourself into understanding the ins and outs of a system. On graduation, many employers will value a year of experience on a piece of software as highly as three years of study! At Quadrant2Design, a leading exhibition stand design and build contractor, Product Design students spend a year working with AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Adobe Illustrator and Premier Pro. Platforms they have not had access to as part of their studies.
You learn so much in such a short amount of time. My abilities in most design skills have improved tenfold. I have also learnt completely new software that I wouldn’t have learnt otherwise. Adding this software to my skillset will definitely make me feel more confident when applying for graduate jobs.
Teagan Williams-Tate, Placement CAD Designer, Quadrant2Design
Before accepting a placement; check what software you will have access to and the level of support offered to Placement Year hires. Alongside direct training and supervision; platforms like Salesforce offer comprehensive training programmes online that will support your ambition to add the all-important “experienced in” to your CV.
2. Stay well clear of any remote working placement schemes.
It’s imperative that at the end of a work placement, you are able to say that you have experience in the workplace. Employers want to know that you have the maturity to work alongside and learn from colleagues of all levels. It never hurts to show that you measure up in terms of time keeping, dressing appropriately and understanding basic office administration.
Beyond that, being on the ground gives you greater exposure; you can learn from those not in your team, get to know Managers and network with contacts for the future. Learning about all the functions of a company from their culture and operations to their products or services is the only way to find opportunities to enhance your role and access more training.
3. Establish and work to targets and deadlines
Ask for targets so that it is clear what is expected of you. When you’re on track or exceeding targets you can ask for the additional responsibilities that maximise what you learn and achieve in your placement year.
Keep track of your targets and your successes. Being able to clearly and confidently demonstrate your work ethic and capabilities is paramount when applying for graduate jobs. Plus, when the time comes for your Placement Appraisal; hitting targets is an objective measure of your performance. Working to deadlines will prepare you for your final year of study.
4. Ask for a project or a consistent workflow
Your direct Supervisor may be very busy and it’s important you demonstrate you work well on your own and using your initiative. Even if the task is trivial or the project is speculative; having work to always fall back on means you should never be in a position of having little to do or needing to ask for work. Managers can often be too sensitive to the fact that you’re new to a role and be hesitant to back up your workload; don’t overstretch yourself but show willingness to have more put on your plate.
5. Support your colleagues and make friends
From fellow placement students to senior members of different teams; be friendly, offer your time and nurture professional relationships. Seek out opportunities to work on interesting tasks or in new areas that appeal to you. If you are working ahead of target your line manager will likely permit you to take on something new in addition to your core role. Quadrant2Design Digital Marketing placement year student Katie Perry has an interest in photography and film. She found ways to help the film editing team with some simple tasks and after impressing them she has had the opportunity to visit and help film at exhibitions around the UK.
I’ve been working on things beyond marketing which is really expanding my knowledge ready to take back to my final year!”
Katie Perry, Placement Digital Marketing Assistant, Quadrant2Design
Find time to talk to colleagues and understand their role at a company; use the placement year to work on your career plans. Finally, try to have some fun along the way and meet lots of new people.
6. Make contacts and take them seriously
Connecting on LinkedIn or saying “hi” in a hallway is not networking and it’s not making a meaningful contact. Ask your superiors for advice and feedback so they take you seriously. When you’re sure you’ve done well and impressed someone; make them commit to rewarding you. It sounds contrived but if you can get a manager or even a Managing Director to send a casual email inviting you back as a graduate or offering a reference; you can and must hold them to it!
7. Change your reading list!
Subscribe to online trade publications and email blasts relevant to the industry you are working in. Stay tuned in to developments through blogs and online magazines. Finally, read a Sunday newspaper! Arming yourself with general news and reading features and opinion pieces can increase your confidence with your new colleagues and managers.
Conclusion
Making the most out of your placement year is about working accurately and getting the basics right so you can expand your role wherever possible in order to gain valuable insight and establish connections that stick. At every turn, you should seek out opportunities for training and learn from those around you. A good employer will want to mentor you through the process and ensure you have a positive experience. In a sea of graduates; a strong placement year record is invaluable. Make a concerted effort to see a return on the investment you’re making in yourself and the results will speak for themselves.