Is a placement year right for you? Questions to ask yourself before deciding

Is a placement year right for you? Undergraduate Freya Wise shares how she made her decision, and what she learned along the way.

A placement year is a valuable opportunity WBS offers, so it’s always worth considering whether you want to undertake one! As a current second year completing a work placement next year, I asked myself a range of questions and researched available opportunities before making my final decision.

Every student will have different priorities for their ‘sandwich year’ as it’s sometimes called, with some simply selecting a three-year course. The beauty of WBS is the constant flexibility up to the second half of second year, allowing you to move to or from the placement year pathway as you consider all aspects. Feeling confused or unsure is completely normal, so here are a few questions to ask yourself before deciding.

Do I want to extend my degree by another year?

This is a good first question: it’s simple and ensures you’re on the right track. Some students love the academic opportunities their programme offers, especially if they’re considering completing a postgraduate course and wish to complete the degree sooner rather than later. Others prefer the change a placement provides, separating second and final year and offering the chance to try new routines.

If you opt for the three-year course, there are still plenty of career development opportunities, from spring weeks to summer internships, giving you ample work experience and chances to gain new skills before looking into graduate roles or postgraduate degrees. 

How about studying abroad instead?

Placement years don’t necessarily involve corporate settings as some may initially believe! There is great flexibility around where you spend a year away, including studying at another university in a new country. This unique chance to experience a new culture could be of great interest. I’d advise speaking to the undergraduate team or your personal tutor about the different partner universities WBS offer opportunities with.

Are there any roles companies offer that particularly stand out? 

If you’ve decided on a year-long internship, finding the right roles can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of opportunities out there! It’s important to consider where your strengths lie, or areas you want to explore more, which you can figure out by considering modules you have enjoyed or industries you’re interested in.

Different roles I noticed during my search included marketing communications, business operations, tax & audit and many more!

What skills and experience would I gain from a year’s work placement?

I came to believe that a placement would be worth it; it can really deviate from university life, offering a plethora of experiences you may not get elsewhere! Many firms provide placement roles wherein the intern gets their own range of responsibilities alongside support from knowledgeable industry professionals.

In daily life, teamwork is very important, as well as communication, creative and analytical skills – these are learned, strengthened and can be transferred into daily life inside and outside of studies upon your return. 

 

What resources are out there to support my placement search?

The application process for work placements can be difficult at times, so it’s important to take necessary steps to make things more efficient and less stressful! Don’t worry, there are so many supporting resources available. 

Within WBS, the CareersPlus team is so helpful, hosting events that offer networking opportunities with reputable companies. These are great for asking questions to industry experts, meaning you can understand more about what is of interest. A personal favourite was the annual Careers Bootcamp in which I spent a day with Unilever visiting their head office and discovering more about their company culture, followed by networking and group tasks on the WBS floor of the Shard in London!

There are also internship-listing websites which make the search so much easier by compiling all opportunities, as they come out, in one place! Two I utilised were HigherIn and Bright Network. I’d also recommend creating a spreadsheet to keep track of your applications, using headings such as your current stage, information about the role/company and any prep you need to complete.

Final piece of advice

It’s so easy to get caught in the whirlwind of applications, so listen to yourself. Other people offer great advice which can help inform your decisions, but ensure you are making those key final choices. Do what you feel is best, you’ve got this!