International Student Ambassador Marta tells us how they found their placement and shares their top tips to find one
My name is Marta, and I am an international student pursuing a BSc in Software Engineering at the University of Portsmouth.
When you register for a course at the university, you have the option of doing a placement year. I decided to opt for a placement year, and you may wonder why. Well, there are several reasons why I chose to do a placement year. I wanted to gain work experience, understand office dynamics, and explore my career interests - benefits of doing a placement degree.
To get a placement, there are several steps to complete. First, you need to get in touch with your placement team and understand their plan. Then, you need to build your CV and cover letter, which will be your tools to apply for each job.
Once you have the essentials to compete for jobs, the next step is the search. This search depends on you, so you need to make sure to apply for at least one job per week. The placements team is always here to help you, especially with the search - so don’t hesitate to reach out.
My experience during this second step was relatively good. I started looking for jobs early on, somewhere between September and October, and that helped me gain a lot of experience with interviews.
Looking for a placement, applying, and waiting for a response is not easy, but it becomes easier with practice. I used Gradcracker and the MyCareer Work Placements board to find jobs that were compatible with what I wanted to do. However, websites like LinkedIn and Indeed are also good options.
I lost count of how many companies I sent my application to. Some replied and wanted to interview me, while others did not. This will always happen and could influence your search, but you shouldn’t get discouraged. If one company does not respond, others will. Always try to have more than one active application so that you have more options to choose from when you are offered a job.
The next step - the interview - was the most complicated and frightening for me. I had never been interviewed for a job in my field, and I had the pressure of making a good impression and getting the job.
The truth is that you will never be fully prepared for an interview, but there are things you can do to reduce anxiety and stress. Your placements team can help you prepare for your interview and provide you with guides - such as what to do, what to wear, and questions to ask at the end.
Additionally, you should do your research about the company and take some notes that can help you during the interview.
Even if you do not manage to get the role after the interview, do not worry! You still gain experience during the interview, which can help you secure another role during another interview. So do not be afraid to fail, and don’t give up on what you want.
After searching for months, I got my placement in April. I had already received other job offers, but they were not what I wanted to do during my placement. So I decided to turn them down until I found what I was looking for.
It was a risky decision, but it was worth it, and now I am doing what I wanted!
The experience I gained from the search stage until the interview stage helped me a lot in this final one and was an asset in getting the job.
So, when your time to find a placement arrives, here are my tips:
- Start your search early on in the academic year
- Apply for at least one job a week
- Try to have more than one active application so that you have more options to choose from
- Keep notes all your applications as you can use them for reference in your interview
- Prepare for your interview, keep notes, and ask questions
- Read and search about the company that you interview with
- When you get a contract, read everything carefully and ask questions if you do not understand
- Don’t get discouraged!
These tips helped me, and I hope they help you too. Good luck!
Written by Marta Rodrigues, Portugal.