Don’t be put off if recruitment sites you’ve used are no longer showing placements you’re interested in, eg RateMyPlacement or TARGETjobs.
Try using sites which advertise year-round and include smaller companies, such as MyCareer, LinkedIn, Indeed or others listed on our Finding placements page.
Instead of securing an advertised placement, many placement students over the past few years have managed to find a hidden opportunity. Your chances of finding an unadvertised role are probably higher than you think – it’s estimated that about 75% of jobs are never advertised!
You could start by talking to people you know – friends, family, colleagues, lecturers, neighbours. Let them know what you’re looking for and see where the conversation leads. While they might not be able to offer you a placement, they could put you in contact with people who can. It might sound unlikely, but many students secure placements through using existing contacts.
Another option is to contact employers directly to ask about possible opportunities. This is known as applying speculatively.
Start by researching employers and making a list of organisations offering the type of work you’re interested in. You can find companies on MyCareer by clicking on ‘organisations’ under ‘search’. Explore Occupations has resources to help you find employers in specific sectors and LinkedIn's Find Alumni tool can help you find organisations where Newcastle graduates work.
First check if the company is advertising any positions you can apply for. If not, get in touch with them to find out the relevant contact for work experience queries. Send the contact an email, being specific about why you want to work there and clear about what you can offer, with a tailored CV attached.
Most people don’t hear back straight away, or get the response they want at first. If this happens to you, don’t be disheartened! Following up with the companies you don’t hear back from can prompt them to read your application and remind them you’re interested. If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback and use it to keep persevering!
If you’re unsure about what to do, or need application support, you can book a virtual appointment with us through MyCareer.
Feel free to go through to our Preparing to Find a Placement Pathway to help you take the next steps in securing a placement.
If you secure a placement remember to check who manages my placement year and follow instructions from there for notifying the university!
Find out more here for anything Newcastle University Placement related, from advice to funding and support.