Additional Training / Workshops
To make the most out of your placement year, one thing I would highly recommend is to get involved in as many additional training sessions or workshops as you can. These may be on topics like networking, negotiation, problem solving etc. They might not be super specific to your role, but they will definitely help you to improve on your transferrable skills. Another thing to look out for would be any training sessions on specific software like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, as having a good knowledge using these will definitely make you more employable. This can also be a great way to speak to members of the business that you wouldn’t usually speak to, as free training sessions are usually open to everyone.
Networking
Another tip to get the most out of your placement year would be to network and connect with as many people in the business as you can! It doesn’t have to just be with people within your specific field / department. Networking with people from across all areas of the business can be beneficial for your future to help you to access different opportunities and build lasting working relationships. LinkedIn is a great way to do this as other colleagues should come up as suggested connections.
Meetings
Something else I would suggest is to participate more heavily in meetings as you gain more confidence. Sometimes it can be quite easy to sit back in larger meetings and just listen in, but getting more involved will help you to build confidence, improve your communication and presentation skills, and increase your knowledge on specific topic areas. This might be something you do from the outset anyway, but if not, working your way up to doing this is a really good way of getting the most out of your placement year.
Asking for Feedback
Lastly, your placement year is the perfect time to ask for feedback and improve on your job performance and skills. Asking for feedback in any 1:1 sessions you have with your manager is a great way to get a feel for what you are doing well and what areas you could improve on. You could also set specific goals with your manager and try to meet them and then improve on them. This is something we do not get the chance to do as much at university, due to most of our daily work being self-led, but your managers will always be willing to give you constructive feedback to help you to improve!
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