News | Monday, 2nd March 2020

Olivia tells us about the benefits of doing a placement year

“What you experience on placement cannot be taught in a lecture hall”

Olivia is a student currently completing her placement year at EASL, an engineering consultancy company offering a Marketing Placement to students passionate about creating low-carbon solutions. Olivia found out about this opportunity through the University. She told us all about the work she has been involved in and the benefits she has gained during her placement year.

“I came across the EASL Marketing Placement role on My Careers Hub. The job description matched perfectly the topics I’d been studying at University with the tasks and work I was interested in gaining experience in.”

“No day is ever the same or repetitive at EASL” Olivia tells us. “There is always new work or projects going on that you can get involved in or research into.”

When asked about what she enjoys most about her placement, Olivia said:

“EASL provides a friendly and relaxed working environment as well as flexible working hours so you can start and finish in line with your personal preferences which makes working life a lot less stressful.”

The opportunity to plan and get involved in social events was also something Olivia really enjoyed. Olivia got involved by arranging Macmillan coffee mornings as well as the staff Christmas party.

Taking on a placement job has many benefits. Not only do students gain vital key skills that are attractive to employers after you graduate, these valuable skills can also be utilised during your final year of study.

“Most of the work that I do at EASL links with the academic work I have done at University and will do in my final year. I have recently selected a unit for my final year, which I will start whilst I am still on placement, ‘Applied Management in Practice’, heavily based on the work I have undertaken on placement.”

“Now that I have experienced a work place, I have many examples I can refer to which will benefit me in assignments and exams. What you experience on placement cannot be taught in a lecture hall, so I feel that it will have a positive impact on my academic studies and on my overall professional development.”

“My time management has also improved since working at EASL, having a routine and deadlines to meet has made me become firmer with myself and encouraged me to manage my time better.”

On the changes her placement made to life outside of University, Olivia said:

“Obtaining a placement has given me the ability to settle in somewhere. I had only had one job before starting at EASL so I didn’t have much experience in meeting new people, settling in, and getting used to new processes and ways to work as a team. Although, at first it was a bit daunting, once I got over it, I felt so much more confident about taking on new tasks and responsibilities.”

“I would recommend doing a placement to anyone who is currently in their second year of University. Doing a placement gives you a break from studying and allows you to demonstrate everything you’ve learnt over the past two years within practical work. It is also a great way to ease you into work life so that getting a job after University isn’t as overwhelming. Taking part in a placement improves your chances of obtaining a job after you graduate and it has helped me understand what I enjoy doing most.

Find a placement

Students can access My Careers Hub at any time to find roles that suit them, linking with their study and offering them the opportunity to gain real life work experience in their chosen subject. Students can also meet with the placements team to discuss their options and provide advice on their next steps.

Search for placement opportunities on Careers Hub or drop in to one of your faculty Student Hubs on campus.