Working Toward Success: How a Sandwich Placement Landed Student with Graduate Job
Many graduate employers look for practical skills and work experience alongside academic qualifications, and a sandwich placement allows you to demonstrate that you can work and progress in a professional environment.
One former student who found value in a sandwich placement is Connor Walsh. The BSc Economics graduate took a sandwich placement in his third year at Manchester Metropolitan University, allowing him to put his newly acquired academic knowledge into practice.
“When I originally started thinking about going to Uni, I was interested in a course that offered a sandwich placement. I was keen to get some work experience in the finance industry before I graduated, and a sandwich placement offered me the opportunity to get some hands-on experience” explains Connor.
“About six months before the placement year, I started to look for opportunities on MMU’s My Career Hub site, as well as other placement sites. I had a rough idea of what area of business I wanted to work in but I was open to the different types of roles available.”
During his search Connor came across opportunity with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, one of the UK’s leading providers of car and van leasing. Based in Didsbury, the company has worked with university for the last five years, offering placements to students during this time in a wide range of disciplines including accountancy, finance and business.
“What appealed to me about the role with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts was that I’d be working on real-life projects as part of a wider team. They were also flexible with the course start date so I could start my 12-month placement in June instead of September which meant I had more time to get my head back into academia after working life.”
Competition for the role was fierce. Of the many people who applied for the position, Connor was just one who was invited in for an interview with the Director David Johnson, before being offered a placement alongside three other candidates as a Pricing Analyst.
Working in their busy Pricing department, Connor was responsible for reviewing and developing pricing strategies for the high-profile leasing broker, as well as liaising with external partners in order to secure strong offers.
“The first month was pretty much training, getting me comfortable in the role and learning day-to-day tasks. I was then given some manufacturers to work with. I was responsible for building a relationship with the manufacturer and dealers, working with them to get the best possible deals and secure stock.”
In addition to in-house training, Connor was also officially assessed by the University during his placement year, tasked with compiling a reflective log of his time at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts as well as regular course assignments.
“About halfway through the placement, I was visited by a designated placement officer. Towards the end of the placement, I was also asked to complete a project which had to be signed off for me to be able to move into my final year.”
Connor believes the sandwich placement has benefitted him greatly, giving him a competitive edge in the graduate job market, as well as a good insight into corporate working life.
“The experience you get in your sandwich year is invaluable. Working for a high-profile company like Nationwide Vehicle Contracts gives you an edge over other candidates who have just graduated and can be really appealing to employers. I also found I had more motivation to go back to Uni for my final year as I’ve seen what life it like outside of course.”
After graduation, Connor was offered a permanent position with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
So, what advice would Connor give to students considering a sandwich placement?
“Start looking early. Some fellow students ended on placements in industries they didn’t really want to work on because they left it too late to apply or because the placements are in such high demand”
“I’d also suggest you do a lot of research on the company itself before you attend the interview. It’s also worth looking into assessment centres online as they can be a shock. Some companies require assessment which require to complete a range of activities. A lot of the time you’re competing against other candidates for the role.”
If you are interested in applying for a sandwich placement, the MMU Placement team are here to help you. You can contact the team by emailing [email protected].
