Work Experience

Get the most out of your work placement

Placements can feel a little like a lottery, one can provide a wealth of experience and contacts while another leaves you frustrated that you had so little to do. For every work placement you take, there is a lot you can do get the most from the opportunity.

How can I choose the right placement for my career aims and my practice?
What if I’m not given enough direction on what I should be doing?
I feel like I’m out of my depth, should I just fake it?
I’ve been working on a live project, what is the protocol?
What if they only let me make the tea and do the filing?

How can I choose the right placement for my career aims and my practice?

The majority of work placements are not advertised. Do research to understand the range of opportunities available to you, and introduce yourself to the organizations that match your style and interests.

Adapt your CV and portfolio to suit the type of organization or practitioner you are visiting and be prepared to discuss your work. Be clear what skills you have, what skills they may be looking for, and what skills you are looking to develop in a professional environment. Most placement providers are looking for enthusiasm and an interest in their practice.

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What if I’m not given enough direction on what I should be doing?

Sometimes the placement provider won’t be as organised as you’d like. This may even be the first time they’ve run a work placement, so it’s up to you to make sure you know what is expected of you. Have an initial discussion to review what you both expect to achieve. Be clear about what you want and try to negotiate. Arrange for your contact to make periodic checks on your progress.

There is also some basic information that is important to find out about. These include:
• Building security
• Fire exits and any other health and safety information
• Lunch breaks and where you can eat
• What clothes are appropriate to wear
• Times you will arrive and leave

Once you agree to times and duties you do need to be responsible for them. If you are unclear – ask. Although it is not required - be prepared to put in extra time if the rest of the studio is working late. If you are unable to do so, be sure to let your contact know at the beginning of your placement.

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I feel like I’m out of my depth, should I just fake it?

We have talked to many students and graduates who felt that they would give a bad impression if they admitted that they could not do the tasks they were given. Guessing can often make the situation worse as your placement provider will need to fix or redo your tasks.
Do let the placement provider know if you aren’t confident about doing something you have been asked to do, or ask questions if your instructions weren’t clear enough. Some placement providers may be able to provide extra support to help you learn how to do these tasks, others may give you a role that is more suitable to your current skills and experience. If the placement requires you to use technical skills that you do not yet have, consider whether you are ready for this placement yet.

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I’ve been working on a live project, what is the protocol?

Any projects you are involved in should always be treated as confidential (especially any work related to a pitch or proposal). Please ask for advice about confidentiality, never assume. Ask permission before taking anything out of the company, even a rough of an idea you have been asked to work on.

Unless otherwise agreed your input will be the property of the organization. If you have worked on a project ask if you can include the work in your portfolio and how the organization should be credited.

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What if they only let me make the tea and do the filing?

Placement providers may give you more interesting work to do if you show initiative - find ways to be helpful, ask if there is anything you can do. A positive attitude and willingness to be involved will count the most.

If you aren’t occupied on a creative level, there are many other benefits of your placement:
• A real opportunity to find out what makes a practice work
• Increased confidence for future applications
• References, and evidence of your experience for your CV and future interviews
• Invaluable contacts that may lead to future networking opportunities, jobs or commissions

You’ll be in direct contact with people in your field, what can you ask them to make the most of this opportunity? You could:
• Seek advice on how you might get your first paid position
• Ask people about their job roles and how they got into the industry
• Broaden your options and look at other jobs in the company that you may not have considered
• Find out about the skills and experience they look for at interview
• Get feedback on your CV or portfolio

Try setting yourself objectives before you start your placement, this can make you more determined to achieve them. You may also want to keep a placement diary of everything that you learn and achieve, as a memory aid for later when you need to update your CV or talk about your experience.

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