Searching for a summer placement: Top tips

It may only be the start of January, but before you know it we’ll be finishing the term for summer! As tempting as it may be to spend the whole break lounging in the sun, a summer placement is a great way to enhance your CV and boost your future employability when you graduate, and you might even earn some extra cash. Here’s a list of tips to help you in your search for some summer work experience:

1. Spruce up your CV

Keeping your CV up to date is a vital first step. You’ll be wanting to use this to apply for not only summer placements, but maybe a part time job during study too. It’s much easier to update it as you go, as you’ll want to include a brief description of your more recent or relevant job roles to showcase your skills and experience. Updating this frequently means that you won’t sit down a year later and struggle to remember what it was you did!

2. Create a professional online presence

Employers love to get to know who they’re inviting for an interview beforehand. You can create a free profile on LinkedIn, as well as Handshake - Make sure to fill out your profile as accurately as possible, as this will not only allow employers to get an insight into your skillset and experiences, but it also means that relevant job openings will be sent straight to your inbox.

Make sure that your profile is something you’d be proud to show your boss, which means adding your strongest work, following relevant industries, and having a professional profile picture. If you don’t already have a professional headshot, then make sure to head to our Headshot Event at Godiva Place on 31^st January, 1pm, where we will take a photo of you looking your best, ready for you to upload.

3. See what’s out there

There’s so many different job search sites out there that it can become a bit mind-boggling. Here’s 3 key places that I suggest looking at to see what is already on offer:

• Handshake – This one is great because once you’ve set up your profile, it will help employers see what skills you already have and if you’re a good fit.
• LinkedIn – Similar to Handshake, but LinkedIn will email you with job alerts it thinks you would be interested in, based on your profile and your recent searches.
• Google Careers  - This is a sort of compilation of the other job sites out there, all bundled into one much easier to understand page. You can also filter by internships, which a lot of websites don’t usually have.

4. Reach out to local businesses

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Just because they aren’t advertising a position, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have space for a short-term summer job. Reach out via phone or email, attach your CV, and be concise when you ask. Let them know that you’re currently a student, and that you’re looking for a short-term summer placement, and will be returning to study in September. Don’t offer to work for free right away, but if you struggle to find something, you may want to consider the possibility of doing a short period of unpaid work experience or shadowing, just to help boost your CV.

5. Book with the Talent Team

The university has it’s own in-house careers and employability advice service. They can help you with advice relating to job searches, building your CV, and applying for jobs. You can find their page via the student portal, to book a one-to-one appointment with them.