How a Placement Year Can Lead to Two Graduate Job Offers
Luke Hopkinson, a recent graduate of the International Business Management course at the School of Business and Law, completed a placement year as part of his course and received two job offers before graduating. Luke’s story highlights the power of a university placement year in your career and unlocking. It also demonstrates the value of the connections you make during your placement year for your future career.
“You gain invaluable work experience, make valuable connections, and potentially receive job offers, alleviating stress in your final year”
– Luke Hopkinson on the benefits of completing a placement year
Why should I do a business management placement?
Completing a placement year gives you real-world experience in your chosen field, helping to clarify your career goals and make you stand out from other graduates. For Luke, opting for a placement year was a strategic move for long-term career direction. Guided by his university mentor, he chose a placement year in the consultancy industry.
“Initially, I hadn’t thought about the field,” Luke shares, “but after researching it, I found it fascinating, challenging, and full of opportunities for personal and professional growth.” His placement year at Frog, part of Capgemini Invent, provided invaluable consultancy experience, helping him to stand out and understand the industry better.
How can a placement year lead to a graduate job?
Luke’s placement year developed his skills and secured him two job offers upon graduation. He received offers from both Frog and Deloitte, choosing to join Deloitte as a cyber security consultant. “During the Deloitte interview, I extensively discussed the great work I did during my placement year at Frog, including client projects, certifications, and internal initiatives. They were extremely impressed with my experiences and contributions in such a short amount of time,” Luke explained. “I am incredibly proud of these achievements and excited to start my career at Deloitte.” Luke’s story is a testament to the power of placements and the valuable opportunities they create.
What do you actually do during a placement year?
“My day-to-day workload varied greatly depending on whether I was working on a client project. When on a client project, my day began with morning scrum meetings with our team. I worked on client deliverables, which included conducting in-depth research and analyses on client processes & capabilities, competitor analyses and market/consumer trends. Additionally, I created presentations and maintained regular communication with both my team and the client’s team.”, Luke explained.
What are the benefits of doing a placement year?
Doing a placement year enhances your career prospects by giving you the opportunity to:
- Extend skills and develop new ones
- Build your confidence
- Gain knowledge of the professional environment
- Apply your theoretical knowledge to real-world situations
- Develop specific vocational and personal skills
- Make contacts in your chosen industry
- Gain transferable work experience and skills such as communication and teamwork
- Earn a salary.
Is it worth doing a placement year?
Completing a placement year helps you gain valuable skills and experience in your industry, allowing you to decide if you want to continue in the field for your future career. “My placement allowed me to determine if consulting was the right path for me, allowing me to identify what aspects I liked and what I didn’t”, says Luke. It also increases your chances of getting a good job upon graduation, whether with your placement company or elsewhere.
Do you earn money on a placement year?
Yes, placement years are usually paid and contribute directly to your degree. They can include a work-based project for your placement employer, demonstrating your employability.
Whether you are a postgraduate or undergraduate student, completing a placement year means graduating with a year’s relevant work experience, giving you a distinct advantage when applying for jobs and starting your career.
Is it hard to get a placement year?
Applying for placement years can be competitive as demand often outweighs supply. At the University of Brighton, we have a dedicated team of placement specialists able to support you with your search and applications. They can help review your CV, practice interviews, and provide tailored advice to help you succeed in securing a placement year.
Ollie Taylor • July 11, 2024