An industrial placement is often a key part of many university courses and is an important way for students to gain hands-on experience.
We were joined by two students, Kurtis and Felix, who shared their experiences of placements and internships and answered key questions such as:
- Their placement’s daily structure
- Why they chose to do a placement/internship
- The university placement application process
- The benefits/advantages of doing a university placement/internship
Kurtis secured his placement during lockdown and was working at a local
Working at an SME was hugely beneficial to Kurtis, as he was able to get hands on with the whole team and gain a vast amount of experience in marketing as he embarks on his journey to begin a career in sports marketing once he graduates.
Felix was in a similar situation to Kurtis, landing his placement during the pandemic at world-renowned BMW in an engineering placement. Through his hard work during his placement, he was rewarded with a promotion to BMW Motorsport and spent 6 months in Munich learning the ropes of working in a race team.
Without the experience of working at BMW, Felix’s dreams of working in Formula 1 would have been several steps further away.
For the Class of 2026 and the thousands of young people currently navigating the transition from education to employment, the headlines are painting a sobering picture.
For many students and other young people of the Gen Z era, the idea of stepping into the world of work can feel exciting, daunting and occasionally overwhelming.
If you are a “people person”, then stay tuned to hear from Sgt Georgia Lennox-Lamb, of the RAF’s People Specialist Recruitment team, about where your social skills can take you!
