• I wanted relevant work experience for my degree

• I wanted a break from formal studies

• I wanted to earn money for a year

• I thought it would improve my graduate prospects

• It seemed like a good use of my time

• I wanted to develop on-the-job skills to help the rest of my degree

• I wanted to put my skills I had already learnt into day-to-day use

Family/Friends contacts

Main highlight of my placement year was that I was given the responsibility to perform pressure relief calculations for a major client. I took great pride in this as it was a highly technical matter and something beyond my university studies. I was using up to date industrial standard resources such as API 520 and 521 volumes to gain a solid understanding of how pressure relief valves work. It developed my process technical understanding and appreciation greatly in complex process systems. 

• A greater awareness of which sector you want to work in

• Developed technical skills

• Developed professional skills

• A wider professional network

• Increased motivation for your studies

• Friends through your workplace/ other Placement students

• Awareness of the roles I do/do not want to do in the future

The student has made a good positive impact on the business and over the year has progressed to a point where he has been able to add value, delivering project work for our clients. In terms of value-added, I think this has been a success both from the student's perspective and from our own business perspective.

Never give up when applying, I secured my placement in the month of May so very late in the year. Use your contacts and even send soft applications to companies nearby. Once you have a placement, be a sponge and say yes to every task managers give you as you’ll develop time management and prioritisation skills, also it’s nice to work with a healthy amount of pressure as a challenge.