Faculty of Humanities – Placement Year

Faculty of Humanities – Placement Year

Agenda for today’s session Why take a Placement Year Support Available during the Placement Year Page 2 Faculty Requirements Finding a Placement: practical points to consider how to start your search working abroad Hear from students who have completed the Placement Year Next steps

Why should you do it? Page 3 Get real-world experience Confirm your career choice Build a professional network New experiences & broaden your skills Graduate job offer from the placement company Better employment prospects Get a Better Degree Earn Money

So, what’s the problem? Your degree will take a year longer and you will graduate later than some of your friends You will be a real, full-time employee. It’s hard work Applying for placements itself is hard work and will take up a lot of time and energy The process starts now but may take time You may have set-backs along the way Page 4 View, Master, Slide Master to change this text to the title of your presentation

What the Faculty Requires Page 5 Can cover virtually any industry or workplace Minimum requirement of 24 weeks Pass/fail Signed contract between the employer, university and student Assessed by weekly/monthly blogs Employer questionnaire Reflective report

Some practical things to consider Where do you want to live? Type of industry/sector do you want to work for? What type of organisation do you want to work for? Do you want to consolidate /broaden your learning? test out a particular career idea? try something new? position yourself to get a particular type of graduate job? earn money? Page 6

Finding a Placement Do your research Speak to your Tutors Visit the Careers and Employability Service Apply early to the ‘BIG’ schemes Carry out internet searches e.g. Rate My Placement We will help you but ultimately it is your responsibility to find a placement Page 7

Thinking About Working Abroad? Page 8 The Erasmus Programme offers course fee waivers and non-means tested grants for the duration of Placement Year (available to UK and EU citizens) If you secure a placement in the UK but get posted to the EU for three months or more you may still be eligible for funding It is possible work anywhere in the world but make sure you do your research, some companies have specific work visa regulations e.g. USA

Support you will receive while on Placement Page 9 Regular correspondence with the Placement Year Officer Feedback on your blog Reminders about important deadlines At least one site visit News about your course and returning to your studies e.g. Stage 3 Module Registration Student Loan

An overview of the process & some timescales Page 10 Now – get your CV ready Summer Term – attend pre-placement briefing By 20th June – Inform your School of the Placement details July – December – Start Placement One/ Two months in – Workplace visit Autumn term & Spring Term – Apply for Placements A few weeks into the Placement – start to write your learning log/ blog

Don’t just take our word for it Ben Gregory-Ring (Stage 3 Drama and Theatre) Rebecca Challoner (Stage 3 Drama and Theatre) Page 11

What Next? Page 12 Write/update your CV & Talk to colleagues in your home school and/or CES Attend as many company presentations and skills sessions as you can Start looking! Consider what you want from your placement year

Placement students return to Uni with A great CV Up-to-date knowledge that is in demand in industry A bunch of new friends, experiences and expectations Real, credible work experience and examples to use for future interviews A network of contacts A stronger idea of what they want to do in the future Better discipline and a good attitude to their studies A determination to get a good degree and maximise their student days! And, if they are lucky, a graduate job offer! Page 13

Any Questions? Page 14