Applying to a Student Placement Job
One of the best things you can do, in my opinion, is complete a year out working in industry.
This is one of the main reasons I chose my uni and why I have had such a range of experience in different sectors to this date. My placement year made me. If you get a decent placement job with some good people it can seriously set you up for final year and potentially later on! In fact quite a few graduates I know have since gone back to their placement company for full time work…
Which means you need to put in some effort and enthusiasm when finding and applying to companies.
What is a placement year?
A placement year is essentially taking a year during your studies to work within the design industry. My university incorporated this within the course prospectus therefore they also had an employability department to help out with the process. I understand a lot more universities have seen the benefits of doing a year in industry and also adopted the idea..
Finding a company
Now if your university has a department to help with employability or placements (likely yes) then you may already have a big list of companies to choose from. In this case, read the job description, check out the company online and if you think you’d be a good fit apply!
If not or if you want to find an alternate company then thats perfectly fine too… Make sure you do some research on the company, understand what you are asking from them and only then you can prepare your application documentation.
Cover Letter + ‘Design’ CV + Portfolio
These are the 3 main elements that you apply to a placement company with. Here I’ll give you an outline idea for each however I will release some more in depth how-to’s/templates for creating these different elements in ‘shop + free stuff’ soon so keep an eye out!
Cover Letter - Introduces you and why you are interested in the role at that specific company.
‘Design’ CV - All about you, your previous jobs, skills, achievements, interests, memberships etc. A ‘Design’ CV as this should be visually designed like everything you do as a creative.
Portfolio - A selection of projects that you have worked on. Show the raw sketches, photographs, design process, models and final visuals. Also showcase any extra creative skills you have such as life drawing, illustration, calligraphy, photography etc. This should be your best work!
Interview
Now likelihood is this will be quite a casual interview - it is when I conduct them anyway! The main idea of it is to see your personality and how you would fit in with the rest of the team… I keep it very relaxed, talk you through my expectations and what you’d likely get involved with during your time at the company.. then we’d talk through your portfolio and exchange questions/answers. Quite simple really.
Sometimes you may be offered your interview in video or phone call form…
Here is Frame’s Guide to Video Interviews and Haus Careers Guide to Phone Interviews
What you can expect from a placement year in industry
Hopefully you will have had an interview and offer from a great company that thinks you’re just as great! Now for a quick insight into your upcoming year…
Some things you can expect to be a part of (depending on size and type of company):
Office duties - This is the part most people don’t enjoy but it is a good way to understand how the company runs. Things like answering the phones, greeting clients, setting up for meetings, making drinks, organising CPDs.
CPDs - ‘Continuing Professional Development’ are usually 1hour sessions (over a lunchtime for example) where a manufacturer or supplier come into the studio to teach the team about a subject or a skill.
Team Meetings - From concept to presentations to client proposals. Depending on how you perform you could be a part of all of these if you play your cards right.
Company Events - Christmas and Summer parties are pretty standard goings on as well as Clerkenwell Design Week and many other architecture based festivals which offer parties/events for designers in the industry!
New Software - You will be working on the computer nearly every day so a key skill will be to do with learning and using new software for projects. If you want to see an insight into software used in industry see this previous post.
Mood boards - Picking out fabrics, furniture and finishes and creating a conceptual mood board for a project can really bring it to life for some clients compared to a flat visual image.
Visualisations -This doesn’t mean you will become a pro at using rendering software, but being exposed to the process and contributing in post-production (photoshop/touchups etc.) means your understanding will increase dramatically.
Site Visits - Now these are not guaranteed. They are a bit tricky to organise and are costly for companies. If you can request to go to a local site visit for a project that you will be/have been working on. Here you can then potentially do on site meetings and surveys.
Here’s some insider advice
Now I have been a student on placement and since managed 3 students whilst working full time as an Interior Architect so from an insiders thoughts I’ll give you some advice, that I give each of my student placements and that I have learnt over the years…
Know everything that’s happening in the office - you’ll be the one people rely on, make a positive impact to their everyday and they will appreciate you when you’re there and once you’re back finishing up uni…
Be proactive - Know what people need before they do. Really simple example - a stapler. Why does no-one know where a stapler is, have one to hand = easy win.
Put as much effort and enthusiasm into office duties/making coffees as you do with project work. This is a tricky one because no-one wants to be the coffee maker but your ‘mood’ will be seen by everyone very quickly.
Just have good etiquette. Don’t answer the phone like you’re having a chat with your mate. This is a business and you should want to impress the owner of that business!
Learn in the office and follow up at home. Make sure that knowledge sinks in.
Ask questions. You guys must be sick of seeing this but please ask questions. You don’t have to ask the director of the company a photoshop question, but you can ask the person next to you. Please don’t sit there stuck on a task for an entire day because you were too nervous to ask.
Take notes - about everything! You will often get distracted and be jumping between project work, answering phones, greeting clients and doing office duties. It’s very easy to forget a task that was set and feel stupid when you get called up for it. Take a note as soon as it’s set.
Go to every event, CPD, showroom, party, site visit etc. possible!
Anyway, I think thats a decent amount of info for now… If I get anyway feedback from you guys and my student placements I’ll add some updated points. Comment or email if you have learnt anything new recently on placement!
Also I’m thinking about putting together a list of some good looking companies so let me know any you know of that would top your list!