RECRUIT PLACEMENT STUDENTS

Thinking about hiring a university undergraduate on a placement year but not sure where to start?
This guide covers what student placements are, the benefits for host organisations, and how Student Employment Services (SES) can help you source and employ the right student talent for your business.

Student Placement Guide

What is a Student Placement?

This is when the undergraduate student decides to take a year out of their university course studies (usually after their 2nd year) and work in the industry of their choice. This period, also known as an ‘industrial placement’, ‘sandwich placement’ or a ‘year in industry’, allows the student to work full time during the third year and then return back to finish their final year of studies.

How long does the student placement last?

Many of the university degrees have a 10 – 12 month period of employment built into the structure of the course and this is an integral part of a student’s education.

When does the placement year commence?

Once students have completed their exams, they can be available between June and September.

When should you start advertising placements?

You can start the process as early as October, when students are in their 2nd year of studies, once job description and salary is finalised.

Recruiting students on a placement year offers your organisation the opportunity to take on fresh, enthusiastic individuals.

Benefits on hiring a Placement student:

Gain fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and up-to-date knowledge from the next generation of talent.
View the placement as an extended interview – a valuable opportunity to train and assess potential future graduate employees. *
Drive projects forward that might otherwise be delayed due to day-to-day pressures.
Access a low-risk, cost-effective, and flexible recruitment solution.
Enhance productivity and profitability through motivated student talent.
Showcase your organisation’s commitment to developing and supporting future professionals.

* Many of our clients have been so impressed with their placement students that they’ve offered them graduate positions after they completed their studies.

Benefits to the Student:

Understanding what students gain from placements also helps employers see the wider value of hosting a student.

Gain valuable hands-on experience.
Boost confidence and improve interpersonal skills.
Learn while earning in a real-world environment.
Explore potential career paths in their chosen field.
Develop practical, job-specific skills.
Connect work experience with academic learning.

Almost 50% of employers convert placement students into graduate hires, giving your organisation a low-risk way to identify future talent.

Source: ISE Student Recruitment Survey 2024

How We Help Hire Students For Your Business

Our services benefit host organisations by searching for and employing their placement students. The student recruitment team works alongside the host organisation to deliver a non-intrusive service, allowing the host to reap the full benefits a placement student can bring. We have extensive experience tailoring our service to meet the needs of organisations of all sizes and across all sectors. Our success is built on providing bespoke support to every client and student throughout the placement.

→ If you’d like to take on an undergraduate or even a Master’s student for a shorter period, e.g., over the summer, SES also supports this. Learn more here about internships.