Doing a year in industry may not have even crossed your mind, but it’s definitely worth considering. Most courses offer the opportunity take 12 months out in a degree-related workplace, and it has huge benefits. Here are 10 reasons why you should do a university placement year.
We all wish getting a degree was enough, but most graduate employers want you to have had even just a little bit of experience. Taking a placement year will help you gain experience with real life responsibilities in your chosen career path. It is the perfect addition to your CV and is bound to put you ahead of others.
Maybe you’re torn between two types of career, or maybe you’re not 100% certain on your chosen path. A year testing it out is a golden opportunity to find out what is right for you with no long-term commitment.
Placements are available all over the UK, and in other countries too. Head to London for a year in the big smoke, Manchester or Leeds for a go in a northern city, or literally anywhere. Broaden your horizons.
By this point, you’ve completed 15-something years of education. Uni is fun, but you’re not to blame for wanting some time out from essays, exams and 3-hour lectures.
Most placement jobs pay somewhere around £17,000, and hopefully living costs will be nowhere near that amount. Hello, disposable income (cocktails and clothes) and a luxury 4th year of uni.
Getting up for work every day, commuting and paying bills after bills may not sound like fun, but there’s something about having actual responsibilities that is enjoyable. You can experience the “real world” but have the mindset of a student at the same time.
In a lot of cases, the placement you had might offer you the same job out of uni if you do a good job. No post-grad stresses! You can sit back and relax while your housemates spend hours applying for graduate jobs.
Companies like Disney, Topshop, Sainsburys and BMW all offer placement roles. Not only will this look uh-mazing on your CV, but bigger companies offer bigger benefits. Think regular sample sales, discounts and free trips to Disneyland.
You might get lucky and land a placement at a company with loads of other interns your age, or you might get put with amazingly friendly adults who will take you under their wing. Meeting new people and networking is fun and practical.
Having a real job and working with real people will make your confidence skyrocket and give you a sense of purpose you might not have had before. Everyone leaves placement year feeling a lot more rounded as a person.
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