Getting Started...

Tips on getting a Marketing and PR Placement...

To apply for a placement, you cannot be a normal student. You need to have some pazaz about you. If you don’t have any of the following, then try to adopt these skills ASAP:

·         Work Experience

·         Part of a society at University (Business, Photography)

·         Part Time Job

·         Contributed to the University somehow (i.e Open Days)

·         Sport Club (Football, Netball, Rugby)

·         Certificates

·         Volunteering

·         Charity work

·         Etc........

First things first, we know that your first year results do not count towards your final grade in 3^rd year...but don’t be fooled. Oh no, to do a placement most companies look at your first year results. Most, if not all, want you to have a 2:1. So have fun in your first year, but not too much. Work hard, play hard.

Attend all of the PDP sessions, if you’re serious about getting a placement- trust me this really does help. Don’t be lazy either; you have the chance to write a reflective log towards the end of the year, this is so that you gain a certificate for PDP- if you don’t you’ve wasted all that time for nothing. Although PDP is not a module-it is an additional skill/achievement. Employees like this. So get the award to stand out.

Right so now, you’ve finished University for the year, you should have got your grade back and got a 2:1. Brilliant!

Now here is where some people go wrong. You have so many weeks off in the Summer... So get hunting for your ideal placement NOW! Do not make the mistake and do it in your second year, no no, no! In your second year, you have to start reading the chapters, seminar work, journals, extra reading etc. There is no time to faff around. Get organised and write a list of the placements you want to apply to.

It’s important that you read the job titles advertised for placements, so in the summer if they say they want work experience (which they will).... get out the yellow pages and start trying to find some work experience (RING AROUND, DON’T BE SHY). Work experience is so important, it teaches you so much and without it you won’t know what role you really want to apply for.

So now you’ve got your list narrowed, find out where there head office is. If you want to live near to University, home, then research it first.

Look at the website; see if this is a company you want to be a part of. If you don’t it will show through in your interview, the company wants someone who is passionate about the brand. You need to love, breathe, live the brand values!