Nothing about spending a year in industry is easy. From writing hundreds of cover letters to answering motivational questions. It's all a bit daunting.
However, the benefits of taking an industrial placement are countless, especially in today’s job market characterised by economic insecurity and huge competition. Recruiters want brilliant graduates who are ready for the job and who know what it means to put their heart and soul in it.
“Taking the year in industry is giving me the opportunity to get a foot in an industry that is extremely competitive.— Mikaeel, Economics and Finance with a Year in Industry working at Global Market Research Intern at ING Wholesale Bank
"Aside from the wealth of experience and all the technical skills that are picked up, the best thing has to be the network we build during our time. Speaking to people, shadowing them on different projects and even just asking them to a coffee can make a big difference. You speak to people who would oversee the recruitment and interviews of the roles you want so you know what they are looking for. This is a massive advantage when going for your next interview”.
Taking a year in industry has given me more time to think and learn about what I want to do after uni.
I now have a clearer vision of what career path I want to pursue, and this happened thanks to working here, the experiences I’ve had and learning about the industry, about what my colleagues and managers do, as I had no idea what I wanted to do before taking the year out.
During this time I’ve learnt so much, including the fundamental skills needed for a career in this field, which I now hope to pursue. I now have improved skills in excel, reporting, consolidation systems, analysis, communication, problem-solving, etc. This will give me a head start in my career progression and now I feel more prepared for what I want to do after uni and the process to get there.
"In my first week I realised that there was a chance to do a year in industry and I thought I’d love to do that because I spoke to a lot of different companies and one of the things they say they value is experience.
[…] The year in industry is a massive learning curve, it prepared me so much for coming back to university. I feel like I’ll be so much more motivated when I come back to university.
I’ve not only got a year’s of worth of being in a fantastic company but I also got a job at the end, and not just a job - a career. Going into it thinking it could be just an experience – it actually changed my life and my career path. So it’s really been the best year so far.
I’ve even gone to do some exams to become a financial advisors so I’ll also come away with another completely different qualification."
Listen to the full podcast episode here to hear about Jack’s experience during his year in industry, the impact of Covid19 and tips for students interested in applying.
If you’d like to talk to any of these students, please contact the Placement And Study Abroad Manager, Nguyen Banh (n.banh@qmul.ac.uk).