The following articles discuss internships & placements in further detail. These articles should help you find out about internships and placements, what they are, why they are so useful and how you might go about getting one, to help you achieve career success:
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An "industrial placement" (or "industrial work placement") is an extended period of (usually paid) work experience that many major firms offer to undergraduate students. Students who enrol on industrial placements are usually required to do so as part of their degree course. Typically industrial placements will last for a year (12 months, although they may last for less) and form the third year of a four year degree course. It is usually only four year degree courses that offer students a year working in industry. Generally speaking, it is usually vocational-based degree courses (such as Business, Marketing and Fashion) that offer industrial placement opportunities.
Although degrees may include the industrial placement year as part of their course (usually called a sandwich placement, it is almost always the responsibility of the student to apply for and obtain the offer of a placement, although their tutors and careers advisers may assist them in their applications. Places on industrial placements are limited, particularly at the most well-known and respected firms such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
Industrial placements are offered by a wide range of UK and international companies including major FMCG, retail and marketing companies and by retail banks. Some larger firms do not offer industrial placements, although they may offer shorter periods of internship.
Sandwich courses are university undergraduate degree courses that offer students a sandwich placement or industrial placement, usually for the penultimate year of the course.
Now see - Internships and The Importance of Internships.
A Sandwich Placement (also referred to as an "Internship" or "Industrial Placement") is a validated work experience opportunity which forms part of a university degree programme (usually the third year, of a four year course). Sandwich placements can offer student interns useful insights for their final year of study and prepare them for the job market once their course has finished. University staff give students access to vacancies and students will then apply direct to employers the year before a sandwich placement is due to take place, in order to secure a position.
Some universities hold internship fairs and exhibitions to encourage students to consider the option of an internship and to enable students to meet potential employers.
Employers are more interested in candidates with experience
Graduates with work experience in the form of sandwich placements may be deemed as more desirable hires by employers because they already understand the industry, careers and the work they are applying for. Many employers pay more attention to evidence of commercial awareness and work experience than they do to academic grades and extracurricular achievements, such is the value of experience working in the field you are looking for a career in.
Employer Contacts
Students who have spent time working for an employer as a placement trainee will have made lasting friendships with company employees and importantly, company recruiters. Placements students may be given the advantage when making full graduate scheme applications to firms they have already worked at during placements.
Sponsorship
After a candidate's placement year (sandwich placement) some companies may choose to sponsor high quality students in their final year at University, with the promise of a job at the end of the course.
Improved Academic Performance?
Research has also demonstrated that graduates with work experience attain higher level degree classifications than those graduates without such experience, and perform better in the workplace. However, it is debatable whether or not students with internships do better in exams and in the workplace, or if students who do better in exams are actually just more precocious than their counterparts, and are just more likely to be the type of people who apply for and take internships.
A vacation placement is a term usually used to describe periods of internship at law firms. Vacation placements are a good way to find out whether a career in law is right for you and what type of firm will suit you best. It also looks great on your CV as it shows your commitment to law and that law firms are willing to hire you (even if it is just for a week or two).
Many firms take the opportunity during placements to assess your potential as a trainee. They are looking for people who will fit into the firm academically and socially. The way you interact with other people and use your skills in a working environment is far more revealing than a paper-based application and consequently recruiters will be judging you throughout your placement. If you do well, there is a chance you may be offered a Training Contract at the end of it.
Vacation placements usually last two to four weeks and offer remuneration, which can sometimes be quite good. Firms in London can pay up to £300 a week plus expenses (£200 outside London).
Apply for Vacation Placements at various types of firm. Choose different size firms, and firms who work in different fields. This should help you make an informed choice regarding the type of firm you would like to work for.
Most Vacation Placements require you to do some work for the firm, although most of your time will be spent work shadowing. You may do basic tasks such as drafting, taking minutes at client meetings, writing letters and undertaking legal research. There will almost certainly be a social side to the placement, where students can get to know each other in an informal situation. There will also be opportunities to meet other members of staff such as current trainees, HR and partners. You should use these opportunities to build relationships and contacts with these people, mingling can significantly improve your chances of getting hired.
Vacation Placements are highly competitive so make sure you make your applications early. If you are currently studying law at university, you should try to secure a scheme during the summer before your final year; if you are reading other subjects, apply during the summer following your third year. Many firms use the same application structure as for training contracts applications, with interviews and assessment days.
Although high street solicitors have not generally taken up the idea of vacation placements, it's still worth applying to smaller firms if you can’t get a placement with a major firm. The Government Legal Service (GLS) also offers vacation placements working in, for example, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Transport, the Ministry of Defence or the Treasury. Commercial banks, investment banks, oil companies and other large companies run placements in the summer, and you may be able to work-shadow in their in-house legal department. Many law firms regard such general commercial experience favourably. Shadowing a judge or undertaking a mini-pupilage is also good experience of the legal world, and can help you to decide which career path to go down. Such work is usually unpaid but is experience worth having. If you don’t manage to get a placement, don’t give up. Many firms run open days for those who have been unsuccessful, with lectures, training sessions and a taste of work shadowing.