Placement officers at university career services
University career services have strong ties with local companies and will be able to put you in touch with businesses in the sector you want to specialise in. Most universities advise that you’re not put off by the skills you think lack, the more you apply the greater your chances.
Contact businesses directly
Contact a wide selection of firms and send them your CV together with a letter asking about placement opportunities. Start in your local area and don’t be scared to ask, even if they don’t have positions advertised. Many companies will be open to meeting just because you’ve shown the initiative.
Networking
This is a great way to find out about opportunities and meet new people. Attend all the recruitment fairs held locally as well as any industry events you hear about. The IET's Local Networks regularly host networking events, so keep up to date with the events diary to see what's going on near you.
Personal contacts
Parents and relatives all have friends and associates who work in organisations that may be willing to provide work experience to students and undergraduates. You can also look at where students in the years above you gained their employment or work experience.
The IET
Don't forget to make the most of everything the IET can offer. We offer hundreds of networking opportunities through IET events and E+T Jobs, plus for a list of the top employers to approach, look no further than the IET's Corporate Partners.
Job boards
Visit online job boards regularly to search for new opportunities. Sites like Monster, Qreer and All About Careers post opportunities, or even have a dedicated internship search feature.
Other useful websites
- Talentview
- Gradcracker
- The Year In Industry
- Milkround
- Prospects
- Target Jobs
- Rate My Placement
- Graduate Recruitment Bureau
- The Nuffield Foundation