Work Experience and Placements

Employers want students and graduates offering a positive range of knowledge, skills, experience and attributes. They look for applicants who can “hit the ground running” and demonstrate experience of the world of work.

Work experience will develop your skills

Work experience can be paid or unpaid. It may be a sandwich placement, work shadowing, voluntary work, internship or summer training scheme. No matter what it is called you will develop key employability skills:

• effective time management
• increased self-confidence
• a more professional attitude.

Gaining new skills and experience is vital to impress tomorrow’s employers and enhance employability. Careers & Employability advertises the full range of these work-based opportunities on Jobshop Online.

“An employer wants experience of the real world so get experience with part-time or holiday jobs, placements, or volunteering. It is really important to include these on the CV. A degree alone is not enough.”
Gary Seneviratine, Adido Solutions

Placements on Southampton Solent University courses

Many courses at Solent have either an assessed placement element, or a work experience requirement. The Guardian reported University of Manchester research that indicates almost 70% of students get offered permanent jobs by their placement employer after graduation. (Wylie 28/1/06)

Helping you find a placement

The Careers & Employability Service has a team of employment advisers dedicated to working with those looking for work and placements at the daily Careers Hub drop in in RM050. In addition they deliver appointments and seminars, working specifically with course groups within FBSE and MARTEC who have an assessed placement element. Contact Liz George, Careers & Employability Manager on Ext 3160 for more details or email liz.george@solent.ac.uk.  

View from Students and Graduates

'Participating in a placement as part of my course has given me a lot more confidence in talking to people, practising health and safety and ensuring the service users are safe and using machines in a safe manner'
Health, Exercise and Physical Activity student 2010

'I will be able to use experience and knowledge gained during my placement for future references in seminars and for written essays'
Graduate Events Management BA (Hons)

“Deciding to complete a work placement is one of the best things I have done. Not only did I develop many skills, I was given the opportunity to represent the company, working directly with customers. This incredible experience looks great on my CV.” Graduate BA (Hons) Business Information Technology, 2007.