I’m Orla, a final year biology student who has returned from a year long placement in the Science and Technology Facilities Council, UKRI. Read on to learn about why I recommend doing a placement, and how the Department of Biology supports you before, during and after your placement.
Employability support in the Department of Biology
The Department of Biology at York focuses a lot on employability, integrating valuable skills like R studio, science communication and even group work into the courses. There is lots of information available about what previous students have gone on to do, via the Bioscience Employability Hub, weekly newsletters and the Coffee and Careers events which are a great way to ask alumni about their journeys.
Placement years, (also known as a year in industry) are highly encouraged by the Department of Biology. They send a large number of students out on placement every year and have done so for years so the process is really streamlined and there is lots of support available.
What help I got to find my placement
The Department of Biology has a Placements Coordinator, who supports students applying for placements. I signed up for their mailing list which shared open positions and general information. At the start of each year, there is a poster session where returning students share posters and presentations about their experiences. This was a really great opportunity to chat to students who have been on placement and get their perspectives.
Before submitting my applications, I used the CareerSet CV checker and spoke to the Placements Coordinator for feedback and advice on my CVs and cover letters. They also ran a Year Away Mentor Scheme (YAMS), where I was paired with a Stage 3 student who has just returned from placement. My mentor, Harry, was really helpful and generous with his time, even doing a mock interview with me when I got to that stage of my applications.
Support during the placement
Once you are successful in securing a placement, the Department invites students to access a spreadsheet where you can share the details of your placement. This is a helpful way to contact other students who may be at the same organisation or in the same city. So you can reach out to other students to arrange housing together, or just make friends with someone who will be in the same area as you.
The Department regularly checks in with placement students during the year to remind them to contact them if they have any issues. You also have at least two scheduled meetings with a supervisor.
What a placement has done for my employability prospects
My placement year was a fantastic way to gain a year of work experience while still having the safety net of the university and the Department. It allowed me to put a lot of skills into practice in a professional environment, like presenting and project management. I can also use the work I did as evidence on my CV and applications for future jobs. It also taught me what sort of environment I want to work in when I graduate. And provided an insight into research, which has influenced what I see myself doing in the future.
I met a lot of people on my placement, either at my organisation or at conferences and events. Through speaking to new people, I built my professional network and learned more about roles available within a research environment, which will help me plan my next steps. Going on placement also greatly improved my confidence. So when it comes to applying for jobs, I feel comfortable asking for help, and have more faith in my abilities.
Returning to university after placement
One thing I felt apprehensive about during my placement was returning to university. Unfortunately, it’s one of the downsides of having a positive experience on your placement. But the Department made it an easier transition than I expected.
At the start of the year, we were invited to have coffee and cake together. This was a great way to help returning students reconnect after their year away. I’ve also made more of an effort to get involved with the Department this year. I’ve been going to more events, even if I don’t know anyone else there.
Finding the motivation to do university work after being in a 9 to 5 environment, where I had a manager and was part of a team who kept me on track is hard. To help, I try to go to the Department to do work most days, similar to going into the office. It’s a good way to break up the day and gives me the chance to chat to people, something I miss about being in an office environment.
Follow Orla’s placement year journey
My placement in science communication – an industry I didn’t know existed!
Has my placement lived up to my expectations? Not all of them…
Learning new skills on my SciComm placement
A look back at my science communication placement at STFC
Read more blogs from biological sciences students
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