Upon leaving university, the next step is typically securing a graduate role. However, there is tough competition on finding a job as there are many graduates leaving higher education every year. In order to stand out, there are many things that can be done, one of which is a university placement.

 

A university placement is a one year break taken between the second and third year of your studies, (if it is a 3-year course) with the intention that the year is spent in a workplace of your choice. There are many benefits in doing this, and below it will be outlined in greater detail:

 

The benefits

 

1) Experience of the workplace

For many students, spending time in a professional working environment can be daunting. There are routines, structure and expectations in the workplace. These include working 9 to 5, attending meetings on time and feeding back to your manager how your work is going. Spending time in the workplace before graduation experiencing the above is hugely beneficial as it prepares an individual greatly. Often the placements, tailored to students allows for this by providing closer guidance, courses and development aimed at helping the placement student integrate into working life, which otherwise in a role after higher education may not be there.

 

2) Take Skills Learnt to Final Year of university

Another benefit is there are many learnings that can be applied back at university, once returning back to complete studies. Taking on a placement can help with numerous skills needed at a university such as sticking to deadlines, hugely important in the final year and working effectively with different people, beneficial when there are group assignments to do and it requires the input of the whole team to achieve a good mark.

 

3) Build and maintain a network

A placement also provides the opportunity to build a network of working professionals. They can provide advice not only on being a success at work, but also many would have completed higher education and can provide advice. Just getting another perspective can help greatly

 

 

4) Help to understand if the industry is aligned with longer-term goals

Another benefit of a placement is it allows an individual to understand if the industry, region, and/or company is something to pursue in the longer term, upon finishing studies. Often, as mentioned before many have not spent a great deal of time in the industry they are studying in, so knowing if things like fit, satisfaction and other expectations from a workplace are met are highly important.

 

5) Standing out from other graduates and securing a graduate role

Finally, and the most important aspect of gaining a placement is the increased chances of securing a role upon completion of higher education. The final year is a critical time for a student, and any way to relieve that stress to focus on studies is greatly welcomed. Some placements may offer the individual a graduate role, mainly on the premise they achieve a certain grade. It, therefore, allows the student to bypass often lengthy application processes to focus on studies.

Some companies don’t always offer this, which is not hurdle as a placement looks very favourable on a CV. A potential company who know that the individual understands the working environment and can deal with the pressures and expectations that come with it makes great reading amongst the many applications they may receive for their graduate schemes.

 

 

There are many more other benefits, and the ones above are just a few. It is, however, a good opportunity that should be taken where possible.

 

What also can be considered instead should be touched on briefly for those who can see the benefits of a placement, or need to see other options. These include:

• Internships – much shorter time in the workplace, normally over the summer period but nonetheless hugely insightful and beneficial
• Volunteering – this again can be for a much shorter period of time and does not necessarily require a break away from the university. This could be anything from a whole year to a few hours a month. Volunteering that interaction with people of all backgrounds and can be immensely rewarding

 

Hopefully, this article has provided the much-needed insight and the benefits can be clearly seen. Ultimately it increases the chances of ensuring the hard work at university pays off and everything learnt in the lecture hall can be applied to working life.

 

By Shyamee M, private tutor in London. Interested in arranging tuition with a university tutor? Contact Us today to discuss how we can help!