March 4, 2025, by Leah Sharpe

Getting the most out of your placement

By Hannah Kane, Biblical Studies and Theology student

Congratulations, you’ve secured a placement. I’m sure you’re eager to get started. However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to ensure you get the most out of the opportunity. In order to do that, why don’t you try these simple steps.

Keep a diary

Keeping a diary is a great way to keep track of everything you do on placement. I started doing this when I began my Nottingham Advantage Award module: Experience Heritage. Each week I made notes of what I had got up too. That way I was able to keep track of my progress. When it comes to applying for jobs, I can easily go back to what I wrote down, to effectively draw on my valuable experience.

Immerse yourself in the work environment

Small things like going to lunch with your colleagues can be a real help. It’s likely you have never been ‘in the office’ before, so placements are a great opportunity to immerse yourself within the work environment. Creating relationships with colleagues can also give you better insights. Even if you’re not 100% sure that this is where you want your career to end up, it’s a good opportunity to offer your best self.

Get to know the sector

Sometimes, we can enter a work environment with preconceptions over what the sector or organisation is like. Use this time to understand the breadth of the different roles in the sector. You can ask how staff members got to their current role and what it takes to get there. This way, you can gain a clearer idea of how you could get to specific roles. This first-hand knowledge is invaluable.

Ask questions

Don’t be shy! Members of staff will want you to ask questions as it shows that you’re engaged and interested. While at my placement at the National Trust, asking questions was integral to developing my growing interest in the sector. Without asking, I may not have had the confidence to pursue my chosen career path. Remember – there is no such thing as a silly question!

Reflect

Reflecting is a great way to evaluate your experience. Has your experience solidified your career decisions, or has it opened your mind to a different sector or organisation? What aspects did you enjoy? What aspects did you least enjoy? A great example of reflecting is when I undertook a placement that involved hybrid working. I found coming into the office my preferred method of working. Without undertaking this experience, I may not have known that would be my preference.

Book a careers appointment to discuss how to best use your placement experience in job applications and beyond.

Or explore our Work experience webpages to find out what you could do. 

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