Getting the most out of work placements

A work placement is usually an arrangement between a college and an employer that allows students to spend time in a real work environment, gaining experience and knowledge, and an idea of how the industry works. Work placements can last anything from a couple of days to an entire academic year, or longer.

Why should I do a work placement? There are many benefits of completing a good work placement.

Recent research from industry careers body Springboard found that 78% of students who had been on a work placement had been given a real role with real responsibilities.

A good, well-managed work placement will give you the chance to learn new skills, learn about career options and get experience of the world of work.

Perfect - where do I sign?
Don't get too carried away: it isn't all good news. In principle, work placements are great but colleges and employers often don't make anywhere near enough of them.

The Springboard research highlighted some worrying facts. Only 35% of students thought the placement supervision from their college was any good, 31% felt their employer wasn't committed to making sure they had a worthwhile experience, and 24% felt "they were a spare part and given a mundane job to do".

So what can I do to make sure it's worth my while?
Put simply, you have to put as much effort into getting the right placement as you would into applying for a full-time job. Often students just sit back and let their college sort it out and go where they're told.

You should make getting your work placement as much your responsibility as it is the college's, probably more so. If you do it properly you could end up with a proper job offer at the end of it.

Where should I start?
Ask yourself what part of the industry you'd like to work in, or get experience in. Hotels? Restaurants? Contract catering?

Which company would you ideally like to work for? Hilton? Whitbread? Aramark?

Write out a top ten chart, or a wish list that says where you'd like to go and what role you'd like if you could go anywhere.

Take this to your tutor and tell them what expectations you have and what objectives you want to fulfil during a placement.

What role does my college play in getting me a placement?
Depends. They will know which are the main companies that usually take students from the college, which are the most receptive companies, which companies give out the most job offers afterwards, etc.

This kind of knowledge is crucial. You may really want to work for company X, but then find out that somebody went there the previous year and came back saying it was rubbish.

The personal relationships your tutors have with the companies will also be invaluable. Your tutors will often be able to give you names and contact details, or make contact for you and recommend you for an interview.

What if my college can't find a place I like the sound of?
Don't despair, and more importantly, don't compromise if you really don't have to. If the companies on your wish list aren't known to the college, or the college has been told in the past that they don't take placements, don't just leave it at that.

Contact the company yourself and ask if they would consider giving you a work placement. Your letter should take the same form as a proper job application and should also include your CV.

If you're lucky, they'll ask you in for an interview and, again, the same rules of preparation and technique apply as for a job interview.

Click on the following links for advice on writing job applications, preparing a CV, interview preparation and interview technique.

What if I want a more senior role?
It's a common complaint of students that they're not given enough responsibility, or the tasks they're given are boring and mundane. The truth is that no matter how forward-thinking the company is, it's not going to let a student loose in charge of a hotel or restaurant.

You must be prepared to start at the bottom and do the boring jobs. If it's a long placement the situation will improve if you show you're keen and willing to learn.

How do I make sure I get the most from the placement? If you're doing a formal work placement as part of, or alongside, an academic course there should be a set procedure for monitoring your performance and that of the employer. Often, if it's done well, the placement itself will be structured so you get the most exposure to all parts of the role or business.

But often, these plans either aren't followed or aren't set out in the first place. The Springboard research showed that less than half of students had placement plans that had been agreed with their employer, college and themselves. Just over a quarter had no placement plans at all, and of those that did, only a third of them were followed fully.

Again, remember that it's your placement and it's up to you to make sure you're getting the most out of it. If your college isn't very forthcoming with a structure, hassle them until they are. Contact the employer yourself and explain to them the importance of a structure and suggest coming up with one and send it to them to look over.

If you do have an agreed structure, then it will also be up to you to stick to it as much as you can once you're in the job. Yes, pinning down your boss to get him to write appraisals or train you in a new skill can be difficult, but you must do your best if you want to do well.

What common mistakes do students make?
Treating the work placement as an extension of college rather than as a job. Turning up late, wearing inappropriate clothes, leaving early. Remember at all times that you are there to experience work, and you must treat it as a job - whether you're getting paid or not.

What common mistakes do employers make?
Treating the student like a skivvy. They chop and change plans, don't give feedback, aren't supportive when training and give them the dullest, most mundane jobs. With such a shortage of good staff in the hospitality industry it's very tempting for employers to use work placement students to plug gaps in their workforce.

What should I do when the placement is over?
If you've had a terrible time and the whole encounter was useless then don't just put it down to experience. Let your college know, in detail, what went wrong and why. It will help them, and the students that follow you, to try and correct whatever went wrong.

But if you had a great time and really enjoyed yourself, let people know. Start with a thank-you letter to the company and your boss telling them how valuable the experience was. Tell them how much you would love to come and see them when you finish your course as you'd really like to go back and work there permanently.

Contact them during the holiday periods between terms. You may be able to get more experience and some extra cash if they give you a casual job. It will also show them how much you want to work there.

Any final thoughts?
A work placement with a good, receptive employer is an invalable way to find out about working in hospitality. Unfortunately colleges and employers often see them as a chore or distraction.

It's up to you to get the most out of it.