I’m sure that most of us are familiar with the wave of stress and panic when asked those same few dreaded questions. What’s your dream job? What are your aspirations? Where do you see yourself in 20 years? While some may be following their childhood dreams, a huge proportion of us are still figuring it out. And that’s okay!
I’m Cora, a BSc Biology student, and I’m one of those people who’s gone through a catalogue of ‘dream jobs’ – from painter, to radiographer. I strongly believe that getting a placement was the best decision to ease my lack of direction. So I’d like to tell you why and how I landed here, at The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics.

I signed up for the departmental mailing list
Sites like LinkedIn and Indeed are always handy, but the departmental mailing list includes plenty of different positions approved by the University. With a huge variety sent throughout the year, you never know what could catch your eye!
Registering your interest doesn’t mean you’re forced to take a year away. All the boring paperwork like contracts and course changes happen after the placement offer is confirmed. Personally, I never viewed a year in industry placement as a ‘must’, rather a good opportunity if a job seemed interesting.
I listed my basic preferences
Have a favourite module you’d like to further develop? Would you like to try something completely outside of your field? Would you like to move to somewhere new or remain local? It’s difficult to find a specific job when you’re unsure which route to follow. Answering basic questions on work style, location, and finances can narrow things down.
Personally, I wanted to find a placement with flexibility and chance to try a range of techniques. Though I knew that cell biology was the sector I enjoyed most. Presently, I’m even dipping my toes into chemistry, which I’ve hardly touched since GCSE, before moving onto the cell lab!
It was also important to figure out whether I could budget for the upcoming year.
REMEMBER! Some placements are unpaid, yet some of these entitle you to a full maintenance loan (search ‘type B’ placements or email bioaway@york.ac.uk if you’re confused). It’s also worth applying to the York Futures Scholarship.
I applied… and applied … and applied
Applications can be a long, difficult and especially annoying process. Places are often competitive and advertised across the country. Don’t let a rejection – or 50 – stop you! Luckily, applications run throughout the year so there’s no point comparing yourself to others on the same search.
Keep in mind that both your CV and cover letter (if needed) should be personal to the role. This doesn’t necessarily require a full rewrite. Once you have a solid draft of both, just be sure to edit and review them, using buzzwords and including skills that cater to each employer. It’s a tricky skill, but the year away team offers drop-ins throughout the year for advice. You can also find help with this from the careers and placements team or writing centre.
I was relatively selective with the places I applied to, being sure to read the advertisement in depth alongside researching the company and if available, reading past intern experiences (the year away day was great for this). There was a small selection of areas in biology that I wanted to focus most on. Though you might want to apply for many different roles for a taste of something different.
Additionally, I tried, where possible, to inquire about feedback for rejected applications. Often the company will provide contact details at the bottom or within their emails. But, if not, this can also be found with a Google search of the company name. Unfortunately the big and busy companies can’t always provide insight, but it’s great to try to find ways to improve.
Finally, I prepared for a bad experience
Don’t get me wrong, I was super excited when I read the advertisement and I’m certainly enjoying my time here thus far. I feel lucky to feel so comfortable in this space. However, I didn’t know this would be the case – I almost let fear of a new situation stop me.
It’s important to remember that even ‘bad placements’ are beneficial. Not only will you still retain a plethora of new skills for future studies, professional interactions, and applications, but listing the pros and cons of the entire experience can, again, provide insight into the specific work environment for you to thrive.
Take every opportunity to grow and don’t be scared of the ‘what ifs’!
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