Looking for a placement can come with its ups and downs, and requires energy. If you haven’t been successful in securing one yet, you may be thinking:
- “What am I doing wrong?”
- “Will I ever get a placement?”
- “Why does it ‘feel’ like everyone has got one apart from me?”
- “Why do I ‘feel’ so demotivated?”
All these thoughts are totally normal at this stage but we would like to look at them more closely. And by doing so we are going to dispel some myths. You will also here about some tips on how to keep motivated.
“What am I doing wrong?”
The jobs you are applying for may be in a very competitive field or there are limited opportunities.
Tip: Widen your placement searches. Apply for placements with small to medium-sized organisations as well as larger ones. Be more flexible or open-minded about the jobs and sectors you apply for.
Or your applications or interview techniques may be reducing the chances of being invited to interview or being offered a placement.
Tip: Review your CV and Cover letter: book a Quick Query appointment or Placement CV check on Surrey Pathfinder.
Tip: Brush up on your Interview Skills:
- Book a Mock Interview appointment with a Careers Consultant
- Utilise Interview 360 the online interview simulator where you can customise your questions and receive instant feedback
- Read the Job Interview leaflet with advice on video interviews and how to prepare for the types of interview questions you may be asked, and managing nerves
“Will I ever get a placement?”
Employers are actively looking for placement students and continue to recruit all the way through to the end of August. Also, the number of students who are looking will be smaller now, so the likelihood of securing should increase.
Continue to check out placement vacancies on Surrey Pathfinder, Gradcracker, Ratemyplacement, LinkedIn, Indeed, Bright Network and on company websites.
“Why has everyone got a placement apart from me?”
The truth is they haven’t! 90% of placement offers come between February and August.
“Why do I ‘feel’ so demotivated?”
Tip: Take the time to reflect on all the good things that you have achieved so far.
- Learning how to write a professional CV and Cover Letter = improved applications going forward
- Invited to interviews = being considered as a strong candidate
- Assessment centre experience = gaining confidence in group interviews.
You will also have gained a good knowledge of the sector you are looking to work in through researching the different employers you are applying to. Celebrate small victories along the way.
Digging Deep!
Looking for a placement requires dedication, resilience, and a certain amount of optimism. It may help to think:
“I haven’t secured a placement yet: rejection is disappointing but if I keep making applications, and with effort, I will secure a placement”.
Remember to remind yourself of all your strengths and skills and if you struggle to think of these, ask your friends and family. They’ll be happy to tell all the good things about you. And get in contact with your Placement Team – placements@surrey.ac.uk, Personal Tutor or Director of Employability – they are here to help. A few compliments and a pep talk can do wonders.
And keep applying for roles
Keeping a daily or weekly schedule creates manageable goals. It’s easy to set a goal to apply to 10 jobs a week but you are better off concentrating on 2-3 job applications per week. It’s more realistic and better to spend more time focusing your attention on fewer roles to create the best job applications.
Good luck!
