Placement
in England: So the first 2 years of my degree have gone past and early on the
second year the hunt for a placement began. I have to say that for me it was a fun and stressful
experience at the same time. It’s fun at
the beginning because you look out for every possibility available, all the
jobs that interest you and you
hope that all companies will be interested to get you but the reality can also
be stressful. When it comes to actually
applying or choosing which one is right for you it’s a lot harder. Competition these days is bigger and wider, and
you have to be more prepared than ever. Having
your CV checked by a careers person is a MUST and preparing for the interview
you are invited to can be stressful. My advice
to students who want to search for a placement is to think of what will give
you the best experience and help you to
discover yourself. What you really want to achieve? Do you want to work for a big organisation or
a small private company? Do you want to do music, sport or leisure events? If you are willing to relocate? If you are
willing to do it unpaid?
What I did: I started searching early in my 2nd year to see what I could
get. I kept changing my mind.
I love music events but do I really want that for my placement? I wanted
to work in a stadium but will I really like it or get the experience I want? I
wanted something more serious, something that will make me get an experience in
different aspects and areas, not just a specific one. Our tutors and lecturers helped by sending us
e-mails throughout the year about event opportunities but most of them didn’t
appeal to me. Except one. The one that
caught my eye. The one I read and first
thought “I want that – I need that” besides I had all the skills they were
looking for. All those things I could
get from that. Working for the
University which I am already familiar with, working for an awarded team. There
was so much I could get from them. After
my events experience I really believed I could work there and although I sent a
few CVs elsewhere (most of them not getting back to me) that was the one I mostly
was aiming for. I wanted to be prepared
- I wanted to make a perfect CV with all my skills and knowledge without making
any mistakes. I wanted them to call me
and invite me for an interview and when they did i’m pretty sure everyone in
the building heard me screaming “yes I got it”.
Finally – an interview for the job (Events Placement Student with the
Careers and Employability service at the University of Huddersfield) i was
aiming for, the one i wanted with all my heart.
After
knowing about the interview my only fear was actually getting that job. Once again I started preparing for it. This was very important for me. You only get one chance for an interview and
I wanted it to be perfect. Placement
interview day comes. Woke up early,
prepared my answers and looked my best (at least that’s how I think I looked
like). I tried not to be nervous and i
think i did well, but still after the interview I felt like I might not hear
back from them. I believe we all get
that feeling deep inside after an interview even if we want to feel positive. I finished my interview and went back
home. My phone was still turned off and I prepared a nice meal for myself along with my flatmates. When I switched it on at 16:55 i had a
voicemail saying its from the Careers and Employability Services (where i had
my interview for) call us before 17:00, we have great news for you. With only 5 minutes left I called back
immediately and the good news came earlier than i thought (same day as the
interview). I got the placement! The
placement I set myself to get as a goal.
The one that would change my life.
For me this placement is very important.
Now I can see that getting accepted here has boosted my self-confidence.
It is my first “real” job and it’s important i get the right knowledge and
experience. I say “real” because all my other
jobs were part-time for a short period of time, or voluntarily.
