What I Learnt From Applying For a Placement Year

Securing a placement year is incredibly rewarding but can have its ups and downs!

I’m 2 months into my Marketing and Communications Placement Year at Newcastle University and it has already confirmed something I believed throughout the application process: completing a placement year is one of the most beneficial opportunities you can undertake to support your future career and complement your university degree.

A placement year lets you gain a whole year of hands-on industry experience, develop transferable skills and experience what a professional working environment, and 9-5 routine, is really like. That being said, securing a placement year can be tough!

In this blog I will be sharing the key lessons I learnt from my own placement search to help you feel more confident and prepared during the application process.

Use the University Careers Service

My first tip would be to make full use of the Careers Service. The careers team are incredibly knowledgeable and can provide expert guidance at every stage of the application process. From CV writing to interview preparation, you can book appointments now through MyCareer. 

Prepare Properly for Interviews

Regardless of the interview style or stage (face to face, online, phone call, or one-way) preparation is essential. Start by researching the company and its values and goals. Look over your own experience and think about why you want the job and why you would be a great fit. 

One tip I found particularly useful for virtual interviews was keeping sticky notes nearby with key points or examples I wanted to mention. I also would have an annotated copy of my CV nearby. It’s a simple trick, but it can help ensure you communicate your strongest points confidently or help to jog your memory if you lose focus.

Another important thing to note for one-way interviews and applications is to ensure you provide enough detail in your answers. Usually, the length of time or word count they give you indicates the level of detail expected. Make sure you meet this to give yourself the highest chance of success!

Use the STAR Method and Prepare Examples in Advance

Many interviews follow a similar structure and can be somewhat predictable, especially in terms of competency-based questions. Preparing examples in advance can help you give clear, detailed and well-structured answers.

I would recommend creating a document with detailed answers that demonstrate skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and organisation using the STAR framework.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received is surprisingly simple: choose the most relevant example when answering questions. For example, if you're asked about teamwork, an example from a university group project is often more relevant and impactful than one from an unrelated part-time job. Tailoring your examples to the role and question can help employers better understand your skills and potential.

Tailor your CV

Employers see hundreds of CVs a day so to make yours stand out it’s important to tailor it to the role you are applying for. Consider reordering your experience so the most relevant examples appear first, and highlight the skills and achievements that align most closely with the role description. Small adjustments like this can make a big difference and help your application stand out.

Embrace Rejection and Learn From It

It’s important to have a positive mindset and understand that rejection is a key part of the process. If you receive a post-interview rejection, you should always reflect on the interview, thinking about what want well and what could do with improvement, and ask for feedback from the employer.

Most importantly, don't be discouraged. Every application and interview provides experience that will help you grow and develop your confidence.