Category: work experience

Top 10 Tips for Making the Most out of Your Placement

Post author By Nicholas Saddler
Post date 17 May 2023
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Embarking on a placement is an exciting opportunity for students at Queen’s University Belfast to gain practical experience in their chosen field. Whether you’re about to start your placement or are already knee-deep in the experience, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten tips to help you make the most of your time and thrive in the professional environment. Let’s dive in!

Set Clear Objectives

Before you begin your placement, take some time to define your goals and objectives. Identify what you hope to achieve during this experience, whether it’s acquiring new skills, specializing in a particular area, or expanding your professional network. Clear objectives will keep you focused and motivated throughout your placement.

2. Understand the Company Culture

Every workplace has its unique culture and values. Take the initiative to understand your company’s culture and align your actions accordingly. Embracing the company’s values will not only help you fit in better but also make you more productive and successful in your role.

3. Develop a Good Relationship with Your Supervisor

Your supervisor will play a crucial role in guiding and supporting you throughout your placement. Building a strong relationship with them from the start is essential. Maintain open lines of communication, seek regular feedback on your work, and proactively address any challenges or concerns.

4. Be Proactive

Don’t wait for instructions; take the initiative to go above and beyond. Volunteer for new tasks and responsibilities, demonstrate your eagerness to learn, and showcase your skills. Being proactive will not only enhance your learning experience but also leave a lasting positive impression on your colleagues and supervisors.

5. Network with Colleagues

One of the greatest benefits of a placement is the opportunity to connect with professionals in your industry. Engage with your colleagues, attend company events, and participate in networking activities. Building relationships can provide valuable insights, potential mentors, and even future job opportunities.

6. Ask Questions

Never hesitate to ask questions when you’re unsure about something. It’s better to seek clarification than to make mistakes that could have been easily avoided. Remember, everyone understands that you’re there to learn, and asking questions demonstrates your dedication and willingness to grow.

7. Be Professional

Treat your placement as a professional job. Maintain a high level of professionalism at all times, from your punctuality to your appearance and behavior. Dress appropriately, respect your colleagues’ time and opinions, and adhere to the company’s policies and guidelines.

8. Keep a Record of Your Achievements

Documenting your accomplishments during your placement is essential for future reference. Keep track of your projects, tasks, and any notable achievements. This record will serve as a valuable resource when updating your resume and preparing for future job interviews.

9. Seek Feedback

Regularly seek feedback from your supervisor and colleagues. Constructive criticism will help you identify areas for improvement and develop your skills further. Embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth and demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional development.

10. Leave a Good Impression

As your placement comes to an end, ensure you leave a positive lasting impression with your employer. Express your gratitude for the opportunity and convey your interest in potential future roles within the company. This could lead to job offers or valuable references down the line.

Conclusion

Your placement at Queen’s University Belfast is a significant stepping stone towards your future career. By setting clear objectives, embracing the company culture, nurturing professional relationships, and demonstrating proactive and professional behavior, you can maximize your experience and lay a solid foundation for future success. Remember, this placement is an opportunity for growth, learning, and professional development. Make the most of it, and enjoy every moment of your journey!

Find placements on MyFuture.

Tags graduate success, placement, student success, top tips

work experience WORK EXPERIENCE AND PLACEMENT FAIR

Work Shadowing Week 2023

Group of students observing and learning at a work shadow event, wearing professional attire — Students at their work shadowing week 2023

During Work Shadowing Week 2023, Queen’s University Belfast students had the opportunity to experience a day in the life of professionals in various industries in Northern Ireland. Here are seven top takeaways from our student participants:

Great advice

Criminology student Pamela Stewart had a great day with the British Army: “They were all very encouraging and I came away with great advice both for myself and my son who wants to join when he leaves school.”

Industry insight

2. Physics student Brian Rogers appreciated the preparation session beforehand and found it helpful in getting the most out of the experience: “I really enjoyed learning about Andor and speaking to the people there. It was a very useful experience as I move into my final year and begin to apply to graduate programmes.”

A warm welcome

3. Irma Umair, a Human Resource Management student, expressed her sincere gratitude for the wonderful opportunity provided by a visit to Finnebrogue Artisan: “The way we were welcomed and valued during your good company’s tour, gave me a clear indication that the foundation of the company was laid by great vision and values and it is the driving force behind the success of the organization. I appreciate all the efforts your good team made to make it happen successfully.”

An understanding of working life

4. Megan O’Hara, Law student, said: “I had the opportunity to hear from several of Baker McKenzie’s multi-disciplinary teams…I was able to gain an invaluable insight to the day-to-day workings of these professionals as well as their career pathways to these roles.”

Information on different roles available
5. Law student, Declan Gorman, said: “The day was packed with lots of information and insight into what working in a global law firm is like. I particularly enjoyed learning about the different roles outside the traditional ‘training contract’ route at Baker McKenzie.”

Networking opportunities
6. Sai Chintha, Construction and Project Management student said: “It provided an opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to the day-to-day responsibilities of different roles within the firm, which included getting to know their service lines and projects…This is a valuable networking opportunity as well as a chance to gain insight into potential career paths and the company culture at Deloitte.”

Company background
7. Finance student, Xiaofei SHEN commented: “I learnt about the firm’s welcoming corporate culture, its history of growth, the primary duties of each department, and how the company makes its signature sausage…I would like to thank Finnebrogue Artisan for its warm hospitality and patient explanation.”

What our employer partners had to say

Additionally, here are some comments from the employers who hosted students during the work shadow week:

A varied day

Andor Technology: “Feedback from the students was that they enjoyed the variety of the day seeing Research & Development, Engineering and Production and in particular specialists from their degree pathways.”

We hope we inspired them

2. McAdam Design Ltd: “Hopefully this will inspire them for the remainder of their course and we can see them all in a short period of time out within the workforce helping deliver for our communities.”

A well-structured and informative experience

3. Fibrus: We hosted Queen’s University Belfast students for a work shadowing day across our Marketing, Planning, and IT/Network Engineering departments. The students provided positive feedback, highlighting the well-structured day and informative experience. We’re proud to have given them a taste of life at Fibrus.

Overall, Work Shadowing Week 2023 was fantastic, and we are thrilled that so many students had such a positive experience. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the professionals who opened up their workplaces to our students and provided them with such valuable learning opportunities. We look forward to continuing working with such great employers who provide these kinds of opportunities to our students.

Read more on Work Shadowing Week on our website: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/GainExperienceforyourCV/work-shadowing/

Tags graduate jobs, shadowing, work experience

MyFuture MyFuture App part-time job Uncategorised work experience

How to find work experience as a Queen’s Student – Using the MyFuture app

Post author By Joseph Curran
Post date 19 March 2023
No Comments on How to find work experience as a Queen’s Student – Using the MyFuture app

University is a time of growth and learning, where students are able to gain valuable knowledge and skills to help prepare them for their future careers. However, while academic achievement is undoubtedly important, it is equally essential for students to gain work experience alongside their studies.

The benefits of work experience while at university are numerous, ranging from enhanced employability to improved time management and networking skills.

At Queen’s University, the MyFuture app/website is the one stop shop for finding work experience and jobs whilst at university. Here are some tips for navigating the website to maximise your opportunities.

“How can I find work experience opportunities during my time here at Queen’s?”

If you are reading this essay then you have taken your first step to find work experience. One of the good places for finding good opportunities is actually through our social media apps. You can find these opportunities @QUBCareers on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

We post a lot about work experience, especially on a Wednesday. We have a jobs reel that’s dedicated to those voluntary, casual and part-time roles. Similarly, the Queens Careers dedicated website has lots of information about work experience opportunities.

Similarly, look out in your mailbox as well because you will get careers consultants newsletters. The careers consultant is linked to your school, will sends out newsletter and jobs and work experience will filter through from that.

However, the main focus of today is MyFuture, which is a careers management system for Queens.

“How exactly can I use MyFuture to find these work experience opportunities?”

MyFuture is a career management system which all Queen’s students have access to it and you can simply log in using your Queen’s credentials. On the MyFuture system you can perform many things, including but not limited to:

Book careers and activities
Book careers consultations
Find out about degree plus pathways
Access VMock (CV Checker)
Frequently updated job boards

“What sort of jobs can we find on MyFuture?”

MyFuture is frequently updated from lots of employers who will come on a daily basis and post all sorts of jobs including graduate roles and work experience opportunities .

What’s important to note is that MyFuture acts like your favourite streaming apps such as Netflix and Disney+. The more you use it, the more it will adapt towards your job preferences. So if you go on to the job search, the first thing you’ll see is “because you viewed this job”. On top of this, it will also pull-out jobs that other people who are studying the same thing as you are looking at which will definitely be useful. You’ll also be able to see jobs that have recently been posted as well as jobs that have been trending on the MyFuture website.

“Im seeing too many jobs that I’m not interested in, how can i fix this issue?”

You can make use of the filter on the website. This will allow you to filter based on characteristics such as graduate roles, work experience, placement year, long placement internships, short insight opportunities, employability, development opportunities, voluntary work.

“Can I set up alerts for any of these opportunities coming our way?”

Once you’ve done that search with the filters that I talked about, you can set an alert. For example, I’m looking for a part time job in the voluntary sector. I can set that filter and then you can see an opportunity to set up an alert.

So what you do is you go in and it sets up an alert for you, and you can tailor it to come to you as often or as less frequently if you like.

For example, you could set that alert to come to you every week, because you really want that part-time role and you’ll get that filtered through to your e-mail so All of the jobs that have been added since you last looked, they will come to you by e-mail and the good news? You can set up as many alerts as you want!

“How can we apply for jobs on MyFuture?”

Once you find that role you can like find all of the things that you expect to find; your candidate criteria, your location, your salary, all of those things. Then you’ll see a big apply button.

Now there’s a couple of different ways the employers will use that apply button. So either you can apply to their external website and you can go directly to that application process or some of the jobs you will be able to apply through MyFuture and it prompts you to add your CV and cover letter.

So you can add your CV, upload your cover letter and then attach that to the application and those documents remain there as well so you know you can use them again. (Although I think the people in the career service would be encouraging you to tailor your cover letter and CV!), but the application process is really, really simple.

“What specific job tools are there for international students?”

So with the filters previously mentioned, you can actually add a filter to look at employers that are willing to take students on with a work visa.

There’s also an option for student circus, which is UK jobs for international students, so if you click on that, that takes you directly through with our login to that resource, where there’s lots of jobs for international students, so that filter with the employers and then the additional menu item of jobs for international students.

“How do you I access work opportunities abroad?”

If you go on to MyFuture and you go on to that jobs menu, you’ll see another menu item. That menu item is for work abroad opportunities and that takes you directly to our go global find jobs abroad.

Do access this through MyFuture because once you get into this resource and If you start looking for jobs again, It will remember your personalisation.

Are you ready to start finding jobs and work experience? Click here

Tags MyFuture, part-time work, work experience

Skills transferrable skills work experience WORK EXPERIENCE AND PLACEMENT FAIR

Top 4 Takeaways from “Want to Find Work Experience?” Session

Post author By Joseph Curran
Post date 6 February 2023
No Comments on Top 4 Takeaways from “Want to Find Work Experience?” Session

The Want to Find Work Experience? Session took place on the 27th January 2023.

A session for Year 1 & 2 Sociology, Social Policy, Criminology & Social Work students on exploring career options and how to access relevant work experience opportunities and internships.

Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own interests and values to support exploration of work experience opportunities that align with their career goals.

Here are the Top 4 Takeaways from the session:

1. Reflect on your main interests

2. Consider what you want from an internship

3. Register on MyFuture for internship updates

4. Attend employer events

Tags employability skills, skills, work experience, work experience and placement fair

Fairs Graduate jobs Graduate recruitment Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair Spring Careers Fair Spring Recruitment Fair work experience WORK EXPERIENCE AND PLACEMENT FAIR

Where is the Spring Careers Fair?

Post author By Md Salah Uddin
Post date 12 January 2023
No Comments on Where is the Spring Careers Fair?

STUDENT ARRIVING AT a Queens Fair in the Mandela Hall — Find your way around the three campus venues

Location one

Venue of spring career fair — Students can attend career fair in different venues

The Mandela Hall – you’ll find it right at the back of the ground floor of One Elmwood. Tip tip, there is a side entrance opposite the Parlour that brings you straight to the Hall.

Location two

The Whitla Hall. You’ll probably know this one as it’s where graduation takes place. If you don’t, just come out of the black and white hall and turn left.

Location three

The South Dining Hall – just beside the Whitla Hall, you will find the South Dining Hall. It’s right opposite Lanyon South.

Don’t forget to register for the Fair at go.qub.ac.uk/springfair.

Tags graduate jobs, graduate recruitment, Spring Careers Fair, work experience and placement fair

Fairs Graduate recruitment Graduate success Spring Careers Fair Spring Recruitment Fair Virtual recruitment work experience

3 things to do before the Virtual Careers Fair

Post author By Aoife Stuart-Madge
Post date 12 January 2023
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Queen's student on laptop on social staircase in One Elmwood — Student accessing the virtual careers fair on campus

STEP 1: REGISTER for the virtual fair in advance via MyFuture.

Registration will open for the online fair on 30 January.

https://qub-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/career-fairs/30dee50212c1a424efba348d6222340d/overview

STEP 2: EDIT your profile

You’ll see an option to edit your profile and upload a well-presented CV for sharing with all attending employers. To do this, simply click on “Edit” at Profile, then “Add New” and follow the instructions to upload/share CV.

STEP 3: VIEW the booths of attending employers in advance

Click on ‘Meet the Exhibitors. View information and star favourites to meet with on the day by clicking on the “favourites” star. This is just a personal reminder during the live event to keep track of who you want to talk to.

Some other points to note:

MyFuture is best accessed on the following browsers: Google Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox

Find out more about the Spring Careers Fair at go.qub.ac.uk/springfair.

Tags graduate jobs, placements, Spring Careers Fair, virtual event, virtual fair, virtual recruitment, work experience

CVs First years Student blogger TargetJobs volunteering work experience

7 things first year students can do to boost their employability

Post author By Aoife Stuart-Madge
Post date 25 March 2021
No Comments on 7 things first year students can do to boost their employability

Our student blogger Maeve McDermott read the TARGETjobs Careers Survival Pack and here are her key takeaways. Number 4, get to know us better!

Your first year of university can be overwhelming. Moving to a new city and navigating a newfound independence, whilst mastering the art of referencing and attending lectures can mean that thinking about your future career is pushed to the bottom of your list of priorities. However, it is never too early to think about ways to boost your employability while still enjoying everything else that comes along with university life, and TARGETjobs Careers Survival Pack is full of tips on how to just that. Act now and thank yourself later and you can save yourself from that final year rush.

Plan your path

Thinking about your career early on can be daunting, so it’s useful to chart your direction and decide which route you are going to take so you have a structure to follow. Will you choose a sector/industry to work and look for employers in that sector? Or will you be more flexible about the role and sector, and instead focus on the employers you like and seek out their opportunities? Either way is perfectly fine, but it’s good to choose one path so you can effectively plan your career as early as possible.

2. Clubs and societies

Joining clubs and societies is not only a great way to meet people and have fun, but to gain those vital transferrable skills. Teamwork and problem-solving skills are part and parcel of being a member of any club or society, be it Brazilian Jujitsu or the Vegetarian Society, and it shows that you’re committed and have interests outside of your studies and your social life! Plus, having a role of responsibility through running events in any clubs or societies can demonstrate communication and organisational skills, which are sure to impress future employers – and can enjoyable too!

3. Part-time jobs and volunteering

Part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities also give you the chance to build on those transferrable skills. Whilst stacking shelves or picking up litter mightn’t be what you want to do long-term, the ability to juggle work and study can demonstrate a strong work ethic to employers and really help you to stand out. There are plenty of rewarding and interesting volunteering opportunities available through Volunteer SU who are always looking for people to offer their time, and part-time work both on and off campus are advertised on MyFuture.

4. Get to know your university’s careers service

Explore what your careers service has to offer. From consultations to employer events to international study tours, your careers service is bursting with resources to help you boost your employability alongside your studies. Visit the QUB Careers website often and follow their social media to keep up to date with opportunities and events. Careers fairs and employer events are a great way to meet and network with employers directly – something that you can never do too early.

5. Develop a good study routine

Establishing an effective study routine from the get-go can really work in your favour. Even if your first year counts for very little, having impressive first year grades will come in handy if applying for internships/work experience in 2^nd year, as employers will only have these grades to base their decisions on. Plus, it’s good to develop those study skills early on in your university career to avoid the final year panic.

6.Look at work experience/internships

Be sure to check springtime deadlines/exam dates as some employers offer insight days, work experience, or internships for first year students. More and more large companies are offering these types of opportunities and having these names on your CV can look really impressive to future employers and can be a great way to decide whether an employer is right for you. After finishing your exams and assignments, what better way to start your long summer break than gaining valuable experience and building up your CV early on in your university career?

7. Register with TARGETjobs

Registering with the TARGETjobs website means you’ll get sent details of careers events, work experience and tips to improve your employability. They also run the Undergraduate of the Year Awards with an award exclusively for first year students, so what are you waiting for? TARGETjobs also run events to introduce students to employers, with some exclusively for first year students and some open to all year groups, such as webinars that can help with your employability. Have a look and see what’s on offer at targetjobs.co.uk/events

Doing just a few things per semester to boost your employability doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming. It’s really as simple as joining a club, volunteering for a few hours or attending an employer event and it can really pay off in the long run. Any effort you put in now will really help you in the future, and your final year self will be forever thankful!

Over 60+ Amazing Companies You Can Meet at the Work Experience & Placement Fair

Post author By Aoife Stuart-Madge
Post date 15 February 2021
No Comments on Over 60+ Amazing Companies You Can Meet at the Work Experience & Placement Fair

Whether you are looking for a summer job, a placement or an internship, you can meet a host of employers from every industry with opportunities for students just like you. Here is who is registered to exhibit at the Work Experience and Placement Fair on 24 Feb.

EY (UK)

Catholic Guides of Ireland Northern Region

Le Pritchitt & Co Ltd

Grant Thornton

Civil Service Fast Stream

Probation Board for N.Ireland

Herbert Smith Freehills

Specialisterne NI

Version 1 Ltd

Farrans

Regional Medical Physics Service, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

Diaceutics

CK International

Rakuten Blockchain Lab

IAESTE – British Council

Chartered Accountants Ireland

RPS Ireland Ltd

Coffey Construction (I) Ltd

Alloyed Limited

Childline

First Derivative

Design ID Consulting Ltd

Centre for Effective Services

Citi

TUSLA Child and Family Agency

Civil Service Local – Cabinet Office

ASM Chartered Accountants

Allstate Northern Ireland

Leonard Cheshire Disability

Nitec Solutions Ltd

EOS IT Management Solutions

Glen Dimplex

Henderson Group

Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK), Ltd

Symphony Talent

Shelter Northern Ireland

CavanaghKelly

Eli Lilly and Company

NI Screen

Have you registered for the fair yet? If not, you can register here.

Tags Employer Insight, employer panels, employers, networking, work abroad, work experience, work experience and placement fair

Creative careers cultural careers Employer Engagement Employer events Employer Insight Employer Panels Employers Networking not for profit work experience WORK EXPERIENCE AND PLACEMENT FAIR

Expert Guide to Networking as a Student

Post author By Aoife Stuart-Madge
Post date 9 February 2021
No Comments on Expert Guide to Networking as a Student

Throughout the academic year, the Careers service at Queen’s host employer events, fairs and industry insight opportunities. These are a great networking opportunity and offer the chance to ask questions of some key players in your target industry.

However, often the word ‘networking’ can fill you with dread. Don’t fret – it’s something you do every day. “Networking is something we do everyday, often without realising it!,” says Emma Lennox, Queen’s Careers Consultant. “It’s about reaching out to people, sometimes with an objective in mind (potentially employment-related) and sometimes not.

It’s about connecting online and in person. If online, be professional, join groups and post meaningful comments, expand your network and be curious!” she says.

Before the sessions

Emma suggests doing a bit of desktop research before attending an employer event so you know who is going and what you might want to ask. While the guest speakers will be doing much of the talking, it doesn’t hurt to have a short bio prepared in case you are asked. According to Emma, this should answer three key questions: Who are you?

What do you do/study? What are you looking for?

At the sessions

Emma has prepared the following cheat sheet of questions you can ask employers at networking events:

How did you start in this area of work?

Where do you see a person like me fitting into this field (industry, company)?

What professional associations should I join?

What professional publications should I read?

What are some of the problems and issues your organisation faces?

What are the most necessary skills for these types of jobs?

What are the trends affecting your business?

What’s a typical career path for someone coming in at my level?

Can I keep in touch with you and let you know my progress?

Where to find a graduate internship

Post author By Aoife Stuart-Madge
Post date 2 July 2020
2 Comments on Where to find a graduate internship

Graduate internships are short-term paid opportunities for graduates to gain work experience within a company or organisation. The below directory can help you find the right opportunity for you.Graduate internships are short-term paid opportunities for graduates to gain work experience within a company or organisation. The below directory can help you find the right opportunity for you.

Career Boost

The Career Boost Programme connects Science, Engineering and Technology graduates with real jobs in innovative SMEs.

Assured Skills

The Assured Skills Training Programme is run by the Department for the Economy. They offer a useful stepping stone into a particular area of work.

Graduate Talent Pool

Internship opportunities for graduates across the UK

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

UK-wide programme with projects involving a partnership between a graduate, organisation and university or research organisation

Discover KTP at Queen’s

Step

Internship opportunities for students and graduates in the UK.

Rate my Placement

Access paid placements and internships in the UK.

Targetjobs Internships

Find your perfect internship or placement.