By Becky Altria, BA Accounting and Financial Management with Employment Experience
I am a final year student, with a confirmed place on Nationwide Building Society’s Graduate Programme. I can focus entirely on my studies, without worrying about securing a graduate position. All because I took a placement year.
If you are driven to succeed, keen to get in to work or unsure about what exactly you’d like to do in future – taking a placement year may be perfect for you.
I spent a year working in Nationwide’s Treasury. I worked on reports for regulatory and decision making. I was given a real job, with real tasks and responsibilities. It was tough at times, but ultimately an exciting and engaging experience – I’m not sure that I will ever learn so much in such a short period of time again. I made so many great friends and I was exposed to an array of opportunities. I also got involved in Nationwide’s citizenship agenda, including teaching maths to disadvantaged children. I loved the culture and had no doubts about returning there for a graduate position. This is one of the many fantastic benefits taking a placement year provides; I got to experience the job and the organisation I could be working for in future. This helped massively wh
en making the life changing decision as to what graduate role to choose.
The university offer a huge amount of support for students looking to take a placement year. The Management School’s dedicated Employability Hub advertise opportunities to students, as well as providing skills workshops and interview & application support. You get a designated mentor, who has been on placement the previous year, just like myself, to support you through the whole process.
This support continues while you are on placement, students are provided with a placement tutor, who visits twice a year and supports you whenever you need it. Further to this, the Employability Hub are always there to support you.
Taking a placement year has not only helped me to secure a graduate position. I’ve developed an array of skills that I know will help me to hit the ground running when I start in my new role. The experience I’ve gained has made my university studies even more relevant. I am now able to apply my learning to real life scenarios that I have experienced, helping me to develop my understanding much faster. My placement year has taught me how to focus for long periods of time, a huge benefit to my final years studies. Finally, I am able to take up my graduate position at Nationwide, knowing I already have a fantastic network of friends and colleagues to support me.