Work placements

Work placements, work shadowing and volunteering can be a valuable way to gain new skills or refresh old ones.

Whether you are a student or a recent graduate, or you have had a gap in your career due to, for example, unemployment, maternity leave or illness, a placement offers you an opportunity to gain experience and skills, and establish contacts. It may even lead to direct employment.

Benefits to you and the employer
There are numerous benefits to both the person doing a work placement and to the placement provider.

Finding a work placement
Tips on how to go about finding a work placement, and preparing yourself for an initial meeting or interview.

Useful Links
See this page for a list of websites that offer placements and advice on finding a work placement.

“The placement was extremely useful. I regained my confidence after a career break, updated my technical knowledge and worked alongside some great people."

Kathryn Richardson, a Chartered Chemical Engineer, previously worked as a production manager for a global chemical company. She left to take a five year career break to focus on her young family. She then began to consider ways of preparing to return to employment. She found a three month unpaid placement which then led on to a six month paid placement, This gave her  the experience needed to apply for her current role with the Environment Agency.