The University Careers Service was a great help in ensuring I secured my placement. They provide support in several ways: from on-demand services which are accessible at any time, to drop-in sessions where you can speak to a member of the Careers Connect team to access personalised advice. One service I found particularly helpful was the CV Essentials Pathway, this checks your CV against Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to ensure it will pass initial CV checks used by employers. Additionally, it scored my CV, highlighting areas where I excelled and areas which needed improvement. For example, in some areas it provided recommendations of how I should change the wording. It also allows you to input a job application and gives you advice on how to tailor your CV to that specific job role. This ensures that you present yourself as a prime candidate and your CV is exactly what the recruiters are looking for.

After completing the CV pathways, you can access CV Advice Workshops, where a member of the careers team provided me with personalised feedback and advice to ensure I was well equipped to tackle the application process. This session was extremely beneficial, as it gave me the chance to ask questions and receive tailored advice on how to improve my CV. The advisor emphasised the importance of formatting your CV in a clear way, using concise wording and providing real life experience which evidenced any competency skills. They also gave me advice on common mistakes students make on their CVs, such as including unnecessary information.

Overall, the Careers Connect service was instrumental in refining my CV, building my confidence regarding the application process and ensuring I secured my dream placement.

What To Consider When Applying For Placements/Internships

Applying for placements and internships can be particularly competitive so it’s essential you understand what the process entails. Good preparation is the key to success!

Here are a few things I learnt:

• Each role is unique so it’s important to tailor your application to the specific requirements of the role. To achieve this, study the job requirements and demonstrate how you would be good for the role. Try to include examples of your own personal experiences, either through things you have learnt on your course or outside of academia.
• Next, you should spend some time researching the company, learning their missions and values. The recruiters want to check you understand the company, what they do and what they stand for. Make sure you have a few notes on this to include in your answers, for example “your values really resonate with me because…”.
• Finding someone to settle any nerves before an interview can help. I always rang my mum to have a chat and make sure I was in a good headspace, even if I didn’t talk about the interview itself, I found this incredibly helpful to keep my mind clear.
• Remember that you don’t need to be perfect. There were times in interviews I found the questions difficult to answer, but always remain calm, take a breath and ask for a few seconds to think. It’s okay to ask the interviewer to clarify the question. Most recruiters are not trying to trip you up, they are gauging how you react when posed with a difficult situation.
• Finally, I always aimed to enjoy the interview process and build rapport with the interviewer. Even if you don’t succeed, there’s always something to be learnt from every interview and you can reach out for feedback to find out where you can improve for the future.

Written by Domenique, a current BSc Information Technology Management for Business student

Related