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Finding and applying for placement roles
Where to find opportunities and how to apply to them.
This page will guide you through the process of finding and applying for a placement role, with practical tips, useful resources, and clear steps to help you secure an opportunity that aligns with your goals.
Don't forget that the Placement Team within Careers & Employability can support you in your search for placements and how to find the right role, as well as offering advice on applications.
How to search for a placement
- Start early - Many large companies advertise their placement opportunities as early as September of your second year
- Keep an open mind - don't rely on a job title. Take a look at job descriptions to see if you can apply your knowledge and skills
- Keep track of your applications - you can use our template application tracker
- Prepare your CV - come along to our daily drop-in in the Careers Centre, Monday-Friday between 1.00pm-4.00pm during term-time
- Tailor your application - we can help you with this in our daily drop-in or our Placements Club every Tuesday and Thursday during term-time
- Ask for support - the Placement Team is dedicated to supporting you while you are searching for your placement and while you complete your placement
Where to find placement roles
General jobs boards
These are a great place to start your placement search. You can filter searches by opportunity type, length and industry. You can also sign up for alerts when a role matches your interests.
Some online job boards include:
Accessible job boards for disabled students
Evenbreak and MyPlus Students' Club help disabled students and graduates reach their potential. They offer tailored resources, inclusive opportunities, and links to disability-friendly employers.
Sector-specific opportunities
General job boards are useful for finding a range of roles. However, some industries may not advertise there.
Here are other places to look for opportunities specific to your faculty.
Many placements in Business and Law will be advertised through the large, general jobs boards. You can find specific job sites relevant to your industry through the Career Guides below:
Creative Careers may be harder to find through traditional placement job sites, however the skills and experience can be applied to a wide variety of roles. Research shows that freelance and small businesses make up most of the creative industries, so many creative student choose to undertake a Self-Employed Placement Year.
You can find specific job sites and further guidance relevant to your industry through the Career Guides below:
Humanities students have a wide breadth of skills and knowledge which are excellent for a range of roles. Traditional placement search sites will advertise suitable roles, but you can also find more tailored information through our career guides:
Sites like GradCracker are excellent for searching for STEM placements. You can also find more tailored information through our career guides:
Sites like GradCracker are excellent for searching for STEM placements. You can also find more tailored information through our career guides:
Industry-specific career guides
We have more than 40 Career Guides which provide tailored advice for specific industries. As well as information about specific employers and job boards, you can also learn the various pathways into these industries.
Events and networking
Each year, we host events and networking opportunities to connect you with employers. Our annual careers fairs let you meet employers hiring placement students.
We also run skills sessions throughout the year, led by careers advisers and industry professionals.
Learn more about our Careers Events
Self-employed placement
If you want to do a self-employed placement year, you don’t need to find an opportunity. Speak to the Student StartUp team for guidance on getting started and planning your placement. They run workshops throughout the year to help you develop the skills to start a business.
Learn more about StudentStartUp support
Support with applications
We offer support with your CVs, cover letters, applications and interviews. For in-person support you can access:
- 1-1 appointments - Book a 1-1 appointment with a member of the team to discuss your questions or practice for interviews.
You can also access our online resources below.
CVs, portfolios and cover letters
Find out how to increase your chances of getting an interview by writing a strong CV and completing a successful application.
Applications
Follow our guide to completing application forms and sending speculative applications in order to stand out to employers.
Interviews, assessment centres and tests
Find out more about preparing for different types of interviews, assessment centres, presentations and psychometric tests.
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