Make my employer a big one
Large on the horizon sit the famous names of graduate employment - high profile national and international companies with regular work experience and placement programmes.
Students are often attracted by the glamour of household names when choosing work experience placements. Other big benefits include hefty salaries, the chance to make international contacts and the fact that you'll be able to put a recognised company name on your CV. Applying is fairly straightforward. Ask at your careers service about publications such as TARGETjobs Work Experience which list recruiting employers. Many of the biggest companies will also hold open days and give milkround presentations where you can find out about opportunities. Alternatively, take a look at corporate websites or give the personnel department a call. Be polite, and remember to stress you are looking for work experience rather than a permanent job offer. It should put them at ease. Once you've identified a business sector and some target companies, you're likely to have to submit a written application and go through a first, and possibly second, interview before being offered a place.
What's involved?
Formal work placement opportunities with large employers include internships and sandwich placements.
Internships tend to take place over the summer and Easter holidays. They usually last several weeks at the very least - any shorter period would not allow you and the company to build up a good working relationship and assess each other's respective strengths.
Sandwich placements usually take place during the third year of a four-year course. The training will be more formal than in a smaller, local company and your performance is more likely to be scrutinised and measured against other students in the scheme. Many employers automatically consider students who perform well for full-time jobs on graduation. Competition for these places can be quite tough so you will need to submit a good application and possess dedication and persistence. Remember also that it's likely you will need to move away from home so your living expenses will be quite high. If you're in desperate need of some cash to redress your term-time spending, ensure you balance your incomings and your outgoings before you sign on the dotted line.
Help, I can't get an internship!
Finally, remember - if you don't manage to secure an internship all is not lost. Large recruiters recognise that there are far more applicants than places and offer alternatives such as work shadowing and open days to meet this demand. Alternatively, ask at your careers service about insight days. Large employers often attend these events, which provide a good opportunity to network.
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