Placements - Information for Employers
Placement students – benefits to employers:
- Could bring in new ideas or new approaches to solving problems.
- Are good value for money. They don't expect graduate level salaries although they do need to receive a realistic offer. Placement tutors or the Careers and Employability Centre will be able to give you some current examples of salary levels offered.
- Expect demanding and challenging experiences.
- Are up to date with the latest technology.
- Are used to working well in teams.
- Are keen to put theory into practice.
Requirements of the Placement:
- The placement must last for a minimum of 45 weeks.
- The student has to submit reports to the University at agreed intervals during the placement.
- The placement student will be visited on site on at least two occasions by an academic member of staff.
- Most students will be required by their Department to complete a dissertation and give a presentation at the end of the placement.
- Upon graduation, if the placement has been successful, the student will be awarded either the Diploma in Professional Studies or the Diploma in Industrial Studies.
How to recruit a placement student
Who to contact
Once you have identified a need for a placement student make contact with the industrial training tutor or placement officer in the relevant academic department. For details contact the Careers and Employability Centre. The Centre can give you more general advice about placements too.
You may wish to discuss the possibility of liaison with the University more widely, in which case get in touch with Loughborough University Business and Consultancy Support.
The Careers and Employability Centre offers FREE vacancy advertising. For more details please see our Employer Section.
Timing
The academic contact will provide guidelines on the best method of recruiting students. The cycle starts in the autumn term when students return at the start of their second year and motivation is at its highest. Students are, however, still being placed in the spring and in some niche areas, for example Design & Technology, this may extend into the summer.
Recruitment methods
It is the employer's responsibility to choose the selection method, i.e. application form or CV, and to ensure that students are aware of the closing date, possible salary levels and what sort of other selection methods you may use. It is always sensible to avoid examination times, usually late January and late May/June. Contact either the Careers and Employability Centre or the Industrial Training tutor for more specific advice.
Endorsements from employers
"The company benefits from the continuous flow of high calibre personnel. Each year we get new people full of good suggestions and new ideas.
Coming from outside the company students are able to give a fresh view of problems.
Students who come to IBM to do our 12 month Industrial Trainee Placement Scheme gain a vast amount of business experience and a wide variety of skills. IBM welcomes placements students as they bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to the company. "
Further information
The student guide on the University's website gives general information on placements.
A useful source of advice for employers contemplating taking a student on any sort of work experience is to be found on the National Centre for Work Experience website.
Advice for employers on providing placements for students with disabilities can be found on the Toolkits for Success website.