Industrial placements

[BlueskyBluesea]

How are your DC getting on with arranging these? It seems like every placement is so competitive and really it is very lucky if a student is able to organise a placement that is relevant to their degree. Or do you have a son or daughter that found and completed a placement ....any advice gratefully appreciated ☺️

@NotDonna Ha! Yes. But dc are applying to 20 plus so it could happen!

@TizerorFizz, bully for your DDs. However, this was some years ago.

The new graduate recruitment pipeline has changed significantly in many sectors. Companies are also increasingly linking their graduate recruitment to their internship programmes. Recent graduates now find themselves in a far more competitive market for graduate roles.

Companies are also increasingly linking their graduate recruitment to their internship programmes.

A known quantity is always a safer bet for a good fit, of course, both ways round. But presumably for many that'll be summer internships not necessarily full year placements. A couple of different summer internships may for some be better.

@ErrolTheDragon Yes. I agree that summer internships or work are useful and msny degrees simply don’t offer a year out.

@AquaLeader Maybe if you had read the thread, you would understand the difference between a whole year out and summer internships and I find it odd you have picked up on my comments from days ago. That’s a bit trolling. Not quite sure why you had to be nasty about my DC. Many dc get jobs without a year in industry and jobs are not more difficult to get if you believe the employment stats.

The simple truth is DD1 entered a very competitive field. No “year in industry” would make much difference. Not all jobs expect this. Some areas of employment have shortages so grads won’t struggle to get jobs. It does depend what you want and where and what ambition is. A blanket assertion that all grads face difficulties is not correct.

Oh yes. I forgot to mention. Many many posters on MN have dc who have jobs. Some recently and some 20 years ago! DD1 is 7 years ago. I think all those dc might have info about recruitment and what they found works. Plenty won’t have done a year in industry. Some of us are employers or related to employers. Students are not all looking for the same areas of employment. What works for some won’t be useful or even offered to others. There are differences of opinion which can be discussed but if we get “bully for your DDs” when we post a fairly normal comment about dc’s employment, (that is in fact a majority position) it’s unnecessarily nasty.

Companies are also increasingly linking their graduate recruitment to their internship programmes

Many always have. But the smart ones don't only recruit from their intern pool because not every course/uni offers a year out, so companies would miss out on top graduate talent otherwise.

The benefits of a year out are not to be underestimated, and if the choice is there, I would definitely recommend it. If it doesn't fit with the course or help with future career plans, then fair enough.

@TizerorFizz - whilst the post from @AquaLeader may have been a bit harsh, unfortunately, I think the tone you often take in replying to peoples' posts, i.e. dismissive or patronising, leaves you open to these kind of responses. For example, you ridiculed one of my recent posts, stating my comments were silly.

Recruitment practices for Internships, Placement years, and Graduate roles differ across professions and industries, and our DC aren't all alike or have the same backgrounds.

For example, in the Finance sector my DS is targeting, gaining a summer internship is just as competitive as achieving a year long placement. And he tends to target mid tier/large firms as he needs to be paid a salary to be able to pay his rent in whatever town/city he ends up in - we live in a rural area where finance opportunities don't exist.

Maybe just think twice before hitting post as to how the recipient may view your post, and then you maybe won't get unwelcome replies back.

Happy Christmas

@cyclingmum67 I have been at pains to say different sectors recruit differently and sometimes it is really worth looking al all the options. I don’t agree that I have posted anything controversial. It’s just a different point of view that could be discussed in a mature way. However thanks so much for your advice but, as you might have discovered in real life, some of us are more direct and forthright - not sure I’m apologizing for that! Happy Christmas to you!

@ErrolTheDragon, there is a significant difference between a summer placement and a one-year industrial placement.

In the workplace, a common rule of thumb suggests it takes about three months to build confidence and understand the business, and at least six months to make a meaningful contribution to the organization. A student who has completed a three-month internship may be considered a familiar face, but a student who has undertaken a year-long industrial placement becomes a fully integrated member of the team.

Gen-Z employees are leaving their first graduate roles at a much faster pace, whereas millennials stayed in their first graduate job for an average of nearly 4.5 years. Unsurprisingly, many organizations are now prioritizing industrial placements and apprenticeships over traditional graduate hires as part of their talent pipeline.

By the way, my DHs ex company is not very big (mid sized civil engineering consultancy) and they have paid their interns for years! Don’t assume smaller firms won’t pay, Many are successful and are on the look out for talent. DD did work for a smallish solicitor and was paid - I know not the same sector but I would not automatically rule out smaller firms. Most firms start small and build up via talent.

There are very few 18 year olds that get degree apprenticeships. I think it’s around 10,000. Most go to existing employees. The landscape for grads who are 21/22 hasn’t changed that much other than competing against existing employees who are doing apprenticeships. Again in small combines this could be very very few.

No assumptions are being made @TizerorFizz - the small firms my DS has researched in his sector aren't paying enough to support independent living.

Does he need that level of income? In London that would be quite a salary! Many placement dc live at home and commute.

@TizerorFizz - as I said in my earlier post, we live in a rural area - middle of NI to be precise - so commuting isn't an option.

Most large/mid tier firms in English towns/cities are offering salaries in the ~25K range for finance placements. (IBs are higher, but are hyper competitive + cost of living is sky high in London). Small firms he's looked into are offering far less.

This salary, coupled with the same financial support we give him at university, will be sufficient for independent living.

Ideally, we would be living in the home counties, but left those behind nearly 20 years ago for a better quality of life

He also passed this 4th stage, had an interview coaching call in the week before Christmas, and was scheduled for an interview next week.

Did quite a bit of prep for it, alongside revising for exams (which are this week) only to receive an automated email, from Workday (the HR system they use) to cancel the interview as the position has been filled.

Getting some real lessons in how life works sometimes.

Onward and towards to the next one hopefully.

@cyclingmum67 Place filled before all applicants put forward actually seen is a lesson is the gap between HR best practice and life. How unlucky. Hope the exams go well!

It really is very difficult - hard lessons to be learning. It’s entirely different to my own experiences, which were all a walk in the park. I think DD has applied to over 30, had a quite a few interviews but everything is taking ages. It’s now exams so juggling both not easy either.

@NotDonna - yes, completely different from when I first started looking for graduate jobs in mid 90s too.

I've a number of ex-colleagues who were laid off in October/November - most on 40s/50s and they are alsp finding recruiting practices equally low in standards/principles too, e.g. applying to roles that no longer exist, being ghosted after 3rd interview, interviews being cancelled at last moment etc etc.

Crikey!! I’m guessing there must be a plethora of excellent workers out there for companies to choose from?

@NotDonna Unfortunately there are still skill shortages in the uk. Not in some areas of work of course where there’s over supply. Anyone could teach in their 40s if they are stem qualified. There are definitely shortages in some areas.

@TizerorFizz Anyone could teach in their 40s if they are stem qualified

I assume you mean after having completed a years PGCE or equivalent qualification ?

@cyclingmum67 Yes but there are a variety of ways to do this. There are jobs but obviously a career change might be necessary. It’s just something to look at instead of being unemployed.,

@TizerorFizz - yes, certainly an option, if you can find a bursary and someone to pay the tuition fees, and have sufficient savings to cover the gap in your cost of living for the year.

@cyclingmum67 I have certainly seen people retrain and there’s a golden hello for maths teachers for example. I’m not saying everyone can do this but sometimes a career change is necessary and a good idea. Unemployment doesn’t pay bills either. I do understand teaching isn’t for everyone.

@TizerorFizz I’m confused by your comments. These are 19 year old uni students looking for a year in industry not unemployed 40 somethings looking for a job.