Guidance & Support on Applying for Placements

Checklist for Success 

Finding and securing a work placement can be difficult. Applications for placement years can often be as lengthy as graduate scheme applications and sometimes even more competitive.  

Every student placement journey can look very different. For some, it can take up to 12 months to secure a placement, but for most it is usually between 6-9 months. So, be prepared for the long haul and don’t get discouraged if it feels like it is taking longer than you expected.  

It's a marathon, not a sprint, so here are some top tips to keep you on track: 
 

1. What do you want to get out of your placement? 

Take a moment to think about what you really want to get out of your placement. Is it to have specific experience and networking opportunities in a particular industry? Do you want to experience working overseas, or do you want to have the chance to be close to home? Is it to gain professional experience or to build on what your experience is so far? 

In short, how will you measure that you have had a successful year and that you really have made the most of the opportunity? 

2. Work out what you want to do 

Perhaps you are lucky enough to have always known what you want to do when you grow up! For most of us, we haven’t got a clue! Working out what type of role you want to do can be the hardest part.  

Contact Careers and Enterprise to book in a session to discuss your career aspirations and personal preferences. You can also take some online personality profiles. There are all sorts of free tools which can help shed a bit of light on your personality and related preferences.  Ask for feedback from friends and family. What can they see you doing? What are your strengths and weaknesses? They will often have more experience of work and may know about job roles you’ve never heard of. Speak to your personal tutor or course director. They are there to help with placement advice. 

3. What type of organisation do you want to work for? 

It is important to think about what type of employer/organisation you would like to do your placement with. Are you open to any sector or are you looking to gain experience within a specific industry? Some key questions to have a think about include:  

• Do you want to work for a big brand or smaller niche company? 

• Do you want to work in the UK or abroad? 

• What type of sector do you want to work in? Finance, health, government, charity - each sector has its own unique way of doing recruitment so it's important to know for the ones you are interested in working with. 

4. Get going and start early! 

Companies or sectors have different deadlines, so make sure you know the deadlines for your areas of interest. For example, investment banking, finance and the civil service are known for their early deadlines, so you could have missed them without even realising it! 
 
If you start early, you can perfect your CV and a cover letter template, which you can then personalise to each company. It’s important to show why you are interested in the company and show that you are passionate about their industry or area of work. 

5. Understand the application processes 

Every company's application and selection process are different, so it’s important to understand the differences to help you best prepare yourself. The process is usually outlined on the company’s website. If you can’t easily find it, you can look up resources like Glassdoor where previous employees and applicants share their experiences. There is more information below on general application processes but it’s worth spending some time researching and understanding how to be successful in these stages. 
 

6. Tap into networks 

A lot of companies hold virtual and in-person events to give an insight into what it’s like to work there and for applicants to ask questions. It can be useful to show up and network with existing employees or other candidates. Be sure to follow the company’s event pages and social media profile so you’re up to date with what they are doing.  

Why not reach out to your existing network? You already know lots of people in a range of different companies. Don’t be shy to ask for any work experience opportunities or short-term summer placements and internships to boost your CV. Demonstrating that you have had experiences of work shows proactivity as well as experience. 
 

7. Is your online presence professional? 

LinkedIn is the social media platform for professionals. Not only can you keep up with industry trends and post your personal achievements, but you can also look for jobs there. A lot more applicants now use LinkedIn as a platform to showcase themselves.  

If you’re a student with a lack of experience, why not take part in online courses on LinkedIn Learning? Access to the platform is free for all Queen Mary students. 

Don’t forget to clean up your online presence as well. Go through Instagram, Facebook, X (formally known as Twitter) and other platforms and delete what you don’t want your employers to view. More employers are checking out shortlisted candidates' social media profiles so beware of what you post online. 
 

8. Practice makes perfect 

Interviews and application processes are dynamic and unpredictable. So be prepared and practice in front of your mirror! Make sure you’re dressed appropriately and be punctual. Also make sure you are honest - if you don’t know the answer or don’t understand, just ask. Nobody’s perfect. Showing you understand your weaknesses and how to improve on them is a real positive.  

Careers & Enterprise have some great resources that will support you with preparing for interviews and assessment centres.  If you have an interview scheduled, you can also book a Practice Interview appointment with a Careers Consultant. 

9. Keep going! 

Keep going and persevere! We know how hard it is to land a placement role, but an industrial placement can be one of the best ways to secure a great job after graduation. So, keep at it and all that hard work will eventually pay off. Sometimes it may take a lot of applications being sent out to get a response so try not to be disheartened and remember, the more you apply, the more likely you will get shortlisted so try as much as you can to increase your chances of landing a role!