So if you have money worries right now, you’re not alone.

Here are 5 tips and tricks to help ease your concerns around your finances at university…

• Budgeting
• Can your university help?
• Look after your mental health
• How to save money
• Alternative ways of making money

Budgeting

A budget is a plan to help you gain more control and visibility over your finances.

You can create one on a spreadsheet, on a bit of paper or via an online budgeting service.

• Write down a list of your most common expenses, things like food, rent, energy bills, nights out and subscriptions
• Create goals for how much you want to spend on each area month to month. And focus on staying within the budget plan
• Apps like Starling Bank and Monzo are great for helping you calculate your weekly budget. They group all your purchases into categories and send you real-time push notifications when you’re heading over.

If you need a little help or inspiration, The Money Charity has this really cool Money Manual that breaks down all the costs you’ll encounter during University and beyond. It even has a budgeting tool to help you look over all your costs.

Can your university help?

Does your university offer bursaries or grants to students in need of financial aid?

Not all institutions will, but it’s best to check. You never know what help you could qualify for. Your university website will also have key information and resources regarding financial well-being.

They might even be able to set you up with a financial professional to advise you. Or just offer some form of consultancy support.

Hardship funds

Hardship funds are emergency cash supplies that universities provide to students who are going through extreme financial difficulty. Not everyone will be eligible for funding. So if you want to meet the criteria, you’ll need:

• To be an undergraduate student
• A UK resident
• Unable to cover your living costs, like food and rent
• Have applied for the maximum maintenance loan
• Have a low household income threshold – this will vary by university.

How much do you get?

The amount you receive depends on what’s causing the hardship.

If your situation is temporary and can be resolved with a one-off payment, you’re unlikely to receive more. Should you qualify, you can expect to be paid anything from £100 to a few thousand pounds.

To apply for the hardship fund, visit your university website directly. If you’re struggling to find this information, speak to someone from your students’ union team. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

Remember, each university will have its own process. Often, you’ll be asked to show a bank statement as proof of funds. So make sure you have one handy.

Look after your mental health

Worrying about money can adversely affect your mental health.

In fact, Nationwide Building Society reported that 60% of students suffer from anxiety over their finances. This is a really important point. While you are keeping an eye on your bank account, you must also stay conscious of your mental well-being.

And if you think your mental health is declining as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, consider taking one of the following steps…

• Talk to a friend or your family and be honest about how you’re feeling. Talking has uncommonly powerful effects
• Explore your university’s mental health services
• Try meditation – Calm and Headspace both offer FREE trials.

You can also read our blog Mental Health: Taking Care of Yourself.

How to save money

As much as it’s important to budget, saving money is crucial too. Whether it’s through discounts or second-hand material, the more you save, the more you’ll have to spend.

Student discounts

Consider getting a TOTUM student card for literally hundreds of reductions and discounts.

Your student card (or student ID) will also qualify you for discounts in supermarkets, clothes stores, tech outlets and pharmacies.

When you get to the till, ask if the shop offers a student discount. If it doesn’t, vacate the premises in a dramatic fashion.

Want a healthy meal but short on time to shop around? Try Hello Fresh. Delicious recipes made from fresh ingredients are delivered straight to your door. As a student, you can get 65% off your first box, then 30% off for two months plus free dessert for life with your TOTUM card.

Second-hand course books

Course textbooks and materials can sometimes be SUPER expensive. So use your university library where possible. You could also explore local libraries.

Most universities have a second-hand textbook market, where students trade in their old reading materials when they no longer need them.

Alternative ways of making money

Don’t sell your kidney. It’s not easy to buy it back.

There are ways to increase your income without stealing, swindling, embezzling, betting, pilfering, looting, or good-natured double-crossing, no matter the attraction.

Here are some alternative ways of making money at university…

Become a brand ambassador

Brand Ambassadors represent an employer brand on campus. They balance their work around lectures, seminars and coursework.

As a brand ambassador, you’ll get a salary starting at £13 an hour working for employers like the NHS, J.P. Morgan, AstraZeneca and Vodafone.

You’ll also have lots of networking opportunities, building positive relationships with colleagues. Who knows, you might even land a permanent role with your employer after graduation!

Work for your university

Many universities pay students approximately £10 per hour to do jobs like:

• Carry out surveys on behalf of the university
• Contact alumni for donations
• Increase awareness of university initiatives.

Again, you can fit this work between your studies and social life.

Part-time delivery rider

If you have a bicycle or tricycle, you could work as a part-time delivery rider for Uber Eats or Deliveroo. It’s really flexible. You only work when you want to, and you can fit your hours around your degree.

Delivery riders earn roughly between £8.50 – £12 per hour, not including tips.

Quite a treat, right?

Whatever you’re going through, please don’t bottle it in. Talk to someone about it. Get the help you need. Remember, the sooner you address your worries, the better you’ll feel.

The post The Cost-of-Living Crisis: What can you do? appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

Writing an internship cover letter is pretty much an essential life skill. Once you’ve written one, it’ll become second nature.

In this guide, we run you through all you need to know.

• What is an internship cover letter?
• How to write a cover letter for an internship
• Internship cover letter example
• Internship cover letter do’s and don’ts

What is an internship cover letter?

Put simply, an internship cover letter is a formal letter that outlines who you are, why you are interested in the role and why you’re a smashing candidate. 

A cover letter for an internship should urge an employer to read your CV and seriously consider your application. And, when you’re likely applying as one of many applicants, it should help you stand out.

This doesn’t mean doing anything crazy, like making all the text bold and pink. But it does mean (humbly) boasting about your attributes and skills.

Read on for the how…

How to write a cover letter for an internship

Here is a step-by-step guide to putting together an internship cover letter. Think of it like an IKEA manual without confusing diagrams and Allen keys. (Unfortunately.)

Firstly, make sure to tailor your cover letter for each internship application you make.

Set up a document in business letter format. There’s a template for this in Word. But you can also find what you need on Google.

Then…begin to write.

STEP 1: The opening

The opening address in a cover letter is remarkably important. It’s like the first flight of an albatross chick.

If it takes to the wind, it’ll soar off the beach and into the sky to a life of internships and career opportunities. If it falls and lands in the ocean, it’ll get wet and almost immediately be ripped apart by tiger sharks.

If you address your cover letter to the wrong person. Or to nobody at all, tiger sharks will be the least of your problems. So try and avoid Dear Sir/Madam or To whom it may concern​.

Dear Full Name, e.g. Dear John Smith, Dear Mr/Ms Surname, e.g. Dear Mr/Ms Smith. Always write Ms instead of Miss/Mrs. Don’t presume marital status. 

Finding the recruiter’s name is not always easy. If you’re struggling via LinkedIn, you have some other options…

• Ring or email the company, and ask for the name of the person who is tasked with reading the cover letters for the internship you’re applying for
• Many organisations have a ‘no name’ policy for confidentiality reasons, so if they can’t give you a name…
• Address your cover letter to the head of the department your internship is in
• If you cannot find the name of the person who handles recruitment, address your internship letter to someone who works in human resources (HR)
• As a last resort, address your cover letter to someone in the team.

STEP 2: Introduction

In the introduction of a cover letter for an internship, you need to specify what internship you are applying for. 

Be specific. Here’s an example:

“I am writing regarding the vacancy for the consultancy internship with PwC.”

​It’s also a good idea to reference where you found the internship vacancy. Employers love to know what channels students use when looking for jobs. Here is an example –

“as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my CV attached.”

You also might like…

• How to Write an Internship CV
• Common Internship Interview Questions
• The Best Internships and Placements

STEP 3: Company research

Now it’s time to let the recruiter know why you are interested in the internship. Don’t write ‘because mother told me to’. You want to give specific reasons why the company or the content of the course have drawn you to this internship.

Do some research about the company that is organising the internship. Below is a list of areas you should focus your research on…

• Origins of company​
• Has the company been in the news recently?
• Any major projects the company has been involved in?
• Background of directors or the manager of the team you’re applying to
• Company values/vision.

If you want to research the programme you are applying for, check for any case studies or reviews written by previous interns.

Then craft your next paragraph around the question: why do you want to do this internship?

Here is an example of how to approach this –

“I am drawn to this internship at PwC because it concentrates on sustainability and climate change consultancy. I have read about PwC’s recent project implementing new sustainability procedures in government buildings across the UK. My involvement in the ‘Clear Up Our Campus’ campaign at university makes me perfect for this internship.“

Here, you have shown why you are attracted to the course, demonstrated that you understand what the internship consists of, and even commented on a recent project. It’s a winning formula.

STEP 4: Work experience & qualifications

Now we move on to your work experience, skills and qualifications and why they make you perfect for the internship.

Ensure that you keep the content of your internship cover letter relevant to the role on offer. If you can do a passable impression of Morgan Freeman, that’s great. But it won’t improve your chances of getting an interview.

What unique skills can you bring to the company? What previous work experience has prepared you for this internship? 

If you can answer these questions, employers will be under your spell. As if you were Hermione Granger. Or Ronald Weasley.

Try something like this –

“As my CV describes, I am two years into a Sustainable Engineering degree, achieving high grades in modules focused on sustainable planning in urban environments. My studies have imparted the groundwork of knowledge and analytical skills crucial for a career in this consultancy field. I also have three years of work experience at The Bear Factory, which has imparted great collaborative skills.“

STEP 5: Outro

In this closing section, thank the recruiter for considering your application and express your interest/availability for attending an interview. 

One sentence will do it. Something like this…

“Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the programme further in an interview.”

STEP 6: Signing off

If you start your cover letter with a personal name, such as “Dear Susie,” end it with “Yours Sincerely.”

If you didn’t manage to find the recruiter’s name, use “Yours Faithfully.”

Once you’ve proofread, it’s pen down and time to find some cake. You’ve officially finished your internship cover letter, just in time to apply for that internship.

Internship cover letter example

The examples from each step in this guide have been combined to form a complete example of an internship cover letter. 

This example is for a consultancy internship with PwC…

Dear John Smith,

I am writing regarding the vacancy for the consultancy internship with PwC, as advertised on RateMyPlacement. Please find my CV attached.

I am drawn to this internship at PwC because it concentrates on sustainability and climate change consultancy. I have read about PwC’s recent project implementing new sustainability procedures in government buildings across the UK. My involvement in the ‘Clear Up Our Campus’ campaign at university makes me perfect for this internship.

‘As my CV describes, I am two years into a Sustainable Engineering degree, achieving high grades in modules focused on sustainable planning in urban environments. My studies have imparted the groundwork of knowledge and analytical skills crucial for a career in this consultancy field. I also have three years of work experience at The Bear Factory, which has imparted great collaborative skills.’’

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the programme further in an interview.

Yours Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Internship cover letter do’s and don’ts

Here are a few golden nuggets in the form of do’s and don’ts to help your cover letter shine.

• Do talk about your relevant skills and work experience. Here you’ll get the chance to expand on some parts of your CV and really show off your skills. Make sure to pick the most relevant examples.
• Do tailor your CV for each job you apply for. An employer can tell if you’re just copying and pasting cover letters and changing the employer’s name. Always make it relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Do edit and spellcheck your cover letter. Believe it or not, employers are looking at you right from the start. So, if they see a cover letter with spelling errors – it’ll straight in the bin.
• Do research on the company. Talk about a couple of initiatives they have and link that back to your experience or your personal goals. It looks really good.
• Don’t repeat your CV. Remember this is your chance to shine, pick some of the best examples of your experience and expand on those.
• Don’t use too many keywords. Stuffing your cover letter with waffle will make you out to be unprofessional. Use keywords sparingly and where you need to use them.
• Don’t focus on what the company can do for you. While it’s good to know what you want from a company, we go Dutch over here. Always explain the qualities that you have and why they will work for the company you’re applying for.
• Don’t forget your salutations. A letter is a letter, so don’t forget to add your name and make sure you’re using the hiring manager’s name in the greeting.

Ready to apply? Why not browse through our work experience opportunities. We have loads of vacancies live right now. Click below to get started.

The post Writing an Internship Cover Letter (with Examples) appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

If you’re looking into jobs with high-growth and high-earning potential, you’ve probably come across software engineering. So what better way to kick-start your software engineering career (and get that all-important head start) than with an internship?

• What is software engineering?
• Getting work experience in software engineering
• How much will you be paid?
• Which companies offer software engineering internships?

What is software engineering?

Software engineers develop applications that enables users to complete tasks on computers and all other electronic devices. Who created the apps on your phone? A software engineer. 

The work of other engineers is often a lot more obvious. Take civil engineers for example, they build bridges and roads. It’s quite hard not to notice a bridge when you walk past it; you look up and think, ‘Wow, that’s a big-ass bridge’. Mechanical engineers design and build cars.

Their handiwork is everywhere.

Software engineers’ work is invisible, it’s hidden beneath the screen and inside your phone. And yet, we interact with their work everyday, everywhere. They are very much responsible for the digital age.

Most software engineers have degrees in computer science or, in strange cases, software engineering. It’s also not uncommon for individuals to move into software engineering from other IT-related degrees. 

So, what do software engineers do on a day-to-day basis?

• Preparing and installing solutions by designing system standards 
• Documenting solutions through the development of flowcharts, diagrams, charts, code etc.
• Recommend purchases
• Testing and subsequently approving products 
• Maintaining personal networks
• Designing software solutions by conferring with users
• Providing pertinent data through collection, analysis and development

Software engineering is just one of the careers available to you if you’re looking to pursue an IT-related field. You could become a Data Detective, a job that involves a lot of running and undercover keyboard work.

Getting work experience in software engineering

There are three types of work experience available to undergraduates – placements, internships and insights. Undergraduate work experience comes in threes – like sneezes. 

Each is as exciting as the last, and all are great opportunities to get some top-drawer experience during your studies.

Below is a breakdown of each type of scheme…

Software engineering internships

FOR: All students
DURATION: 1-3 months
WHEN TO APPLY: Sep-Mar​

The majority of software engineering internships take place during the summer. It’s a busy period for interns. Just as it is for ice cream vans. 

A student internship is not just a great addition to your CV, it’s an opportunity to find out what it’s really like to work as a software engineer. Think of it like watching a trailer for a film, before you stream it online. 

Interns do real work too. IT and tech companies don’t hire students to sort paperclips and keep an eye on the printer ink levels.

During a software engineering internship, you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, and see first-hand what they do on a day-to-day basis.

Software engineering placements

FOR: 2nd years
DURATION: 5-13 months
WHEN TO APPLY: Sep-May

A student placement, industrial placement, or wonderfully-named sandwich placement is the most extensive type of work experience you can get at university. 

They last a full academic year and take place in between the penultimate and final year of a degree. Placement students essentially get a job for a year, then return to university to finish their degree.

It means that they graduate with professional work experience, as well as a degree.

Insight schemes

FOR: 1-10 days
DURATION: 1st years
WHEN TO APPLY: Sep-Mar

Insight schemes are designed to give students a peek (or insight) into the inner workings of an industry or particular company. They are the shortest term of work experience available to undergraduates, and are primarily aimed at first years. 

It might seem a bit early to be thinking about work experience. You’ve just arrived at university. Your first year is all about making friends and getting lost looking for lecture halls.

It’s never too early, however, to be thinking about your future career. And choosing a career while you’re still at university is no picnic. There are so many different options! It’s even harder than trying to choose something to watch on Netflix.

Choosing a career can be similar. Getting an insight into what it’s like to be a software engineer or to work in a similar role will help you decide if it’s the right path for you. 

How much will you be paid?

The average salary for internships and placements in the IT sector is £19,292. That’s based on reviews submitted by former placement students and interns last year. In fact, IT students get paid (on average) more than undergraduates in other subject areas.

According to PayScale, the average pay for software engineering professionals is £39,566. Don’t spend it all at once, unless you’re buying Nutella.   

Of course, salaries can vary from company to company, and region to region, but the figures show good earning potential for software engineering students in the UK. 

Which companies offer software engineering internships?

A mighty question. You might be surprised to discover the range of companies that offer work experience in software engineering and software development. 

It’s not just the big IT and tech organisations that are looking for fledgling software engineers. All prominent banking, professional services and media companies have IT departments. If you’re dubious, just look below…

• Atos
• CRITICAL Software
• VISA
• GSK
• Schlumberger
• Rolls-Royce
• Met Office
• IBM
• BAE Systems
• Intel
• Bloomberg
• GE (General Electric)

The post Software Engineering Internships: What You Need To Know appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

If you were asked to picture a computer scientist, you would probably imagine a chap in a lab coat taking apart one of those old PCs with a screwdriver surrounded by the parts of a thousand other computers. But this doesn’t tell the complete story.

As technology continues to advance, more job opportunities arise. So what exactly is computer science and how can you get involved? Read on to find out more.

• What is computer science?
• Computer Science Placements
• Computer Science Internships
• Work experience in the computing sector
• Will you be paid?
• Computer science salaries in the UK

What is computer science?

Computer science is a branch of IT that revolves around the study of computers on a theoretical level, and in application.

In truth, computer scientists do a lot more than study laptops. Computer systems have entered almost every aspect of modern life. It’s the digital age! They control the world’s financial systems, travel services and even our fridge freezers.

Computer scientists look at the systems we’ve built to manage the world’s finances (and fridges) and ask the question, could we be doing this better? To put it simply, they think about how computers or computation can solve problems.

Below is a nice list of some more specific things computer scientists explore through their work…

Computer science placements

Did you know?

Did you know, the winner of the BBC’s ICONS campaign was a computer scientist? The BBC series asked the public to assess the achievements of the 20th century’s most influential and important figures. The winner was Alan Turing.

Alan Turing was one of the world’s foremost computer scientists and he is considered to be the father of the modern computer. His work as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park helped the Allies win the Second World War.

The most celebrated computer scientists of today, (think Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page), built on Turing’s groundbreaking work almost 75 years ago.

Computer science internships

Work experience in the computing sector

A degree in computer science is not enough to ensure you’ll get a graduate job. It might sound savage, but it’s true!

The reality is, there is a lot of competition for places; the Institute of Student Employers report that, last year, there was an average of 60 applications for graduate jobs in IT. It’s super competitive – like a particularly feisty episode of Countdown.

It’s so, so important to get work experience in computer science while you’re still at university. Getting a placement or internship will improve your chances of getting graduate roles significantly – and there are two reasons why…

Transferable skills

Imagine the situation… Two computer science graduates, Trinny and Susannah, are interviewing for a job at a Fintech company, but there’s only one position available. 

Trinny and Susannah have the same degree, a similar academic record and a remarkably similar CV, except in one key area.

Susannah, or Suzie, as her friends call her, completed a year-long technology placement with IBM as part of her degree. The employer chooses to hire Suzie for this very reason.

Suzie’s placement imparted the key soft skills which all employers look for. Her experience of working in a professional environment gave her the edge. Trinny was a fantastic candidate, but she lacked these crucial employability skills.

Doing a placement or internship, and getting work experience while you’re studying, will make you more employable. Just ask Suzie. 

This short – but BAFTA-worthy – video breaks down the study of computer science. It’s well worth a watch!

Will you be paid?

Computer science salaries in the UK

If you decide to pursue a career in this sector after you graduate, you can expect to earn a salary that far exceeds the national average. The average computer science salary in the UK is £57,500, but it can vary across different regions.

The post How to Get Computing Work Experience appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

Thanks to the explosion in popularity of big-budget TV thrillers like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, whenever the words ‘forensic scientist’ are uttered they tend to bring certain images to mind…

Police tape and people in white boiler suits poring over a crime scene with a fine-tooth comb.

And with a forensic science internship or placement on your CV, you too could embark on this thrilling career.

• Where can I get work experience in forensics?
• Forensic science internships
• Forensic science placements
• How much do forensic scientists make?
• Careers in Forensic Science
• Best Student Employers in Science

Where can I get work experience in forensics?

While it’s difficult to find industrial placements, internships and insights in this field, due to the sensitive nature of the work and the impact it can have on legal cases, it’s possible to find other relevant work experience schemes.

If you are considering a career in forensic science, getting some professional work experience while you’re an undergraduate will drastically improve your chances of securing a graduate role.

So let’s take a look at your options…

Forensic science internships

Forensic science internships are one to four months long and offer the chance to get a taster of what it’s like to work in a particular industry.

Unlike placement years, which are integrated into your degree, internships are extracurricular and usually take place in the summer holidays.

Doing a forensic science internship will give you plenty of insight into the following:

• Company culture, values and vision
• Operating high-tech software and equipment
• Working for a small, medium-size or large organisation
• Collaborating across different teams

Forensic science placements

One of the best ways to boost your employability is to do a forensic science placement.

Placement years are structured programs that take place between your second and final year at university. They give you the opportunity to work full-time for an employer and gain industry-level experience in your chosen sector.

While a placement is typically optional, completing one successfully can seriously improve your employment prospects and fast-track you onto your dream career early on in life.

How much do forensic scientists make?

The salary of a forensic scientist will vary from company to company, but is ultimately defined by experience. The more experience you have, the more you will be paid.

The National Careers Service offers a guide on how much a forensic scientist can expect to earn at different stages of their career…

• STARTER: £18,000 a year
• EXPERIENCED: £25,000 – £35,000 a year
• HIGHLY EXPERIENCED: £45,000 or more a year

Feeling pumped about a career in forensics and keen to make the big bucks? Have a look at the list below to discover the FIVE top paying jobs in forensic science.

1. Forensic medical examiner
2. Forensic engineer
3. Forensic accountant
4. Crime scene investigator
5. Crime laboratory analyst

Careers in Forensic Science

To succeed in this industry, you need to have a scientific background, (surprise), but alongside this you need to be multi-skilled, with natural observational and analytical talents, possess patience and the confidence to present and support your findings.

It’s safe to say this isn’t a career that will suit everybody. However, if you have these skills and are naturally inquisitive (think modern day Sherlock Holmes in a chemical suit) and want to play a crucial role behind the scenes in the legal process, this is a role that’s likely to appeal to you.

Forensic scientists come in all shapes and sizes, including…

DIGITAL FORENSICS: Involves the investigation (and often recovery of) evidence found in digital devices – mostly in cases to computer crime.

FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY:  The examination of human remains to help explain how somebody died or to solve a crime.

FORENSIC ARCHEOLOGY:  The study and examination of historic objects or human remains.

FORENSIC BOTANY:   The application of plant sciences in criminal investigations, normally to help connect a victim to a suspect or crime scene.

FORENSIC ENGINEERING:  Concerned with explaining the reasons why particular products or systems fail, in cases of personal injury or damage to property.

FORENSIC LINGUISTICS:  There are three main applications – the provision of linguistic evidence; understanding use of language in judicial processes; understanding language of the written law.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGY:   A field of pathology focused on ascertaining cause of death.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:   The intersection between psychology and the judicial system – understanding the psychology behind criminal behaviour. 

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY:  A forensic toxicologist performs tests on the tissue samples or bodily fluids to try and detect particular substances.

A day job like no other

Forensic investigators play a crucial role in the modern legal process. It is their mission to claw together all the evidence from a crime scene and present the facts impartially to the police or legal professionals like solicitors or barristers.

Part of this process could involve identifying and analysing material like blood, hair, fingerprints and clothing fibres and figuring out who they belong to.

The work carried out by forensic experts could therefore be critical to whether a suspect is locked behind bars or allowed to walk free.

Best Student Employers in Science

Each year, we release the Best Student Employers, which is based on thousands of student-written reviews that are submitted to RateMyPlacement.co.uk.

Reckon you’d look good in one of those long white coats? Have a look at the list below to find out which employers have ranked the highest for science-related careers.

• Pfizer
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• AstraZeneca
• MSD 
• Johnson and Johnson

Across all of the Best Student Employers on RateMyPlacement.co.uk, 46% of their placement students and interns were offered graduate jobs. It’s so important – now more than ever – to get work experience before you graduate.

Want to know what kind of work experience is out there? Look no further than our Guide to Science Internships!

The post Science Careers: Work as a Forensic Scientist appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

Want to protect computer devices from criminal attacks? Beat the hackers and ensure all online information is in safe hands? Yes? If so, cyber security is the path for you.

With the world becoming ever more digital, the demand for cyber security specialists is on the rise, especially when it comes to sensitive government data – you know – all the top secret stuff that shouldn’t be leaked.

So.. how do you break into cyber security? With a placement or internship of course!

Read on for your all-you-need guide to becoming a cyber security whizz…

• What is cyber security?
• What do cyber security professionals do?
• How do I get cyber security experience?
• Cyber security placements
• Cyber security internships
• Cyber security jobs
• What are the best internships for cyber security?

What is cyber security?

Cyber security is the practice of defending networks, data and technological systems from cyber attacks. Let’s begin by breaking down the types of threats that cyber security experts spend their days and nights fighting…

Ransomeware – This form of cyber attack is becoming increasingly common. In a ransomware attack, victims must pay a ransom to decrypt files, however the putting forth of dollar doesn’t guarantee the encrypted files will be recovered. 

Phishing –  Not to be mistaken with fishing. In this attack fraudulent messages will appear as if from a reputable source with the purpose of stealing sensitive information (such as credit card details). 

SQL Injection –  A Structural Query Language (SQL) injection, which is one hell of a name, is an attack on a server in which malicious code is inserted in a server to reveal hidden data. 

Denial-of-service attack  A system or network is flooded with traffic to shut it down. 

What do cyber security professionals do?

There are three key pillars of cyber security, and they define what cyber security guards do on a day-to-day basis…

People –  Employees are often the biggest security risk when it comes to preventing cyber attacks. There was a time when it was highly fashionable for people to leave memory sticks containing highly sensitive information on trains. Cyber security staff train employees within their company (or in a consultancy role) to ensure they are not putting a company at risk.

Process –  An organisation’s processes are crucial to preventing cyber threats. The role of the cyber security team is to put processes in place to reduce these threats, and review the processes as the threats evolve.

Technology –  Once a cyber security analyst has identified the risks their organisation faces they can then identify the technology required to prevent them. Technology is deployed to reduce the risk of cyber risks, or completely prevent them. Analysts have to carry out a risk assessment to decide what controls to put in place.

How do I get cyber security experience?

It’s becoming increasingly important to get work experience while you’re at university. There are an average of 91 applications for every graduate job in the UK.

It’s competitive – like Mario Kart. 

This is true even in the IT and technology sector, which is the fastest-growing in terms of graduate opportunities. 

It’s skills like time-management, the ability to accept criticism and manage-up that employers are looking for. They are crucial and transferable to any working environment.

Doing a placement or internship is an opportunity to develop these skills alongside your degree. Even just a short internship with a cyber security team will help prepare you for the real thing, and show employers that you have the minerals to begin a career in the field. 

Cyber security placements

FOR: 2nd years
DURATION: 5-13 months
WHEN TO APPLY: Sep-May

There are a few different names for placements – some people call them ‘student placements’, others say ‘sandwich placements’, but they all refer to the same thing.

Cyber security placements are designed to give students a full year of professional work experience. They take place in between the penultimate year, and the final year of a degree. For that time, a placement student is a full-time employee for their company.

If you’re considering pursuing a career in cyber security, applying for a placement is a good first step. There are two types of cyber security placements on offer.

You can either work for a company that specialises in cyber-security, or work with a smaller, in-house cyber security team of a large organisation.

Cyber security internships

FOR: One and all
DURATION: 4-16 weeks
WHEN TO APPLY: Sep-Mar

The majority of internships take place during the summer, so they are creatively advertised as summer internships.

A cyber security intern is not employed to be a photocopier or maker of tea. They join a team, shadow experienced professionals, contribute to projects and get a first-hand look at what it’s really like to work in cyber security.

Doing an internship like this is not only a marvellous addition to your CV, it’s an opportunity to work out if cyber security is the right path for you.

Cyber security is but one branch of the IT sector, and there are opportunities to get placements and internships in many other areas. Read our guide to IT internships to discover what’s on offer. 

Cyber security jobs

What can you do with a cyber security qualification? Have a look at the table below to find the top SIX cyber security jobs that’ll pay off your mortgage faster than you can say – ‘Achoo!’.

What are the best internships for cyber security?

Each year we announce our Best Student Employers; a list that is based on the thousands of reviews submitted to RateMyPlacement.co.uk by previous placement students and interns.

This year’s finest companies for cyber security placements and internships are:

• IBM
• Oracle
• Microsoft
• SAP
• Siemens
• Adobe
• Samsung Electronics
• Intel Corporation

The post Cyber Security Internships & Placements: A Closer Look appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

When you send off a placement CV, it’s almost like meeting your fave celebrity… It’s nerve-quaking, thrilling – all the emotions. But ultimately, you want to make a good impression – quickly.

To help you craft the ultimate CV and astound recruiters for placements, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide.

• How to write a CV for a placement
• CV do’s and dont’s

Placement Year CV

You can use this guide to write a CV for any placement you might be applying for.

Our guide and template can also be used for all student roles, whether it’s a placement, internship or insight scheme.

Simply follow each step, taking care to tailor your placement CV to the role, industry and company you are applying to.

How to write a CV for a placement

Here are seven things to always include in a CV, whether you’re applying for a placement, a graduate role or the top dog position:

#1 Contact details

Start with your name. Then provide contact details: your phone number, email and home address. If you don’t want to provide your full address, use your general area. For example; Slough, United Kingdom or Bethnal Green, London.

Photo

A placement year CV doesn’t require you to send a photo. Only attach one if the recruiter asks you to do so. And make it a sensible one. Shots from Magaluf 2019 are probably not appropriate. Instead, use a passport photo or a headshot.

If you’re looking for some placement CV inspo, we’ve put together an example…Remember, your CV should be 100% your own words.

#2 Personal profile

Your profile is a short body of text that acts as an introduction to your placement CV.

This section of a CV seems to terrify people. But there are ways to make writing a profile feel less like jumping into a lion’s den.

If you follow these simple steps, your profile should feel a lot easier to write:

• Tailor your profile to the placement you’re applying for
• Outline who you are and why you’re interested in this specific role/company
• Carefully avoid CV buzzwords, like ‘motivated’, ‘driven’ and ‘passionate’
• Keep it to less than five sentences.

For more tips on perfecting your CV skills, zip over to:

#3 Key skills

Recruiters can be inundated with CVs when hiring for a role. This is why it’s crucial to make an immediate impression on the reader. 

After your profile, the key skills section is where you make an impact. Draw up a list of your key skills and strengths and put it in bullet point form, making it easy to digest. 

Focus on the employability skills that employers crave, making sure to include soft and technical skills:

• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Intermediate in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
• Advanced qualification in Microsoft Excel.

#4 Education

Students applying for a placement during university can provide a predicted grade for their degree. Even if you haven’t finished university, employers want to know what you’re working towards.

It is also important to remember to put your most recent qualifications first. Your university grades at the top, A-Levels and then your GCSEs.

The education section is a good opportunity to tailor your placement CV to the job you are applying for. Draw attention to any modules or projects you have completed that are relevant to the role.

Check out our blog for a splendid six-step guide to writing the best placement cover letter the British Isles have ever seen.

#5 Previous work experience

If an employer has been lured in by your profile and seduced by your key skills, the next thing they will look for on your CV is work experience.

But it can be tough figuring out which jobs to include, and which to leave out. Do they want to hear about your part-time job stacking shelves at Tesco?

YES – if you show how you contributed to the business and what you learnt from your time there. You can do this by listing your key responsibilities and achievements for each role.

If you worked on the cheese counter at Waitrose for a summer, focus on the responsibilities you were given. Were you involved in pricing. Or trusted with cashing up at the end of a shift?

Of course, if you have any work experience that is directly related to the placement, you will be catnip to employers.

#6 Interests

The interests section of your placement CV is an opportunity to let the recruiter know a little more about you.

What do you do with your time when you’re not on the clock? Focus on pursuits that are active and team-based. Playing a sport is groovy enough, but do you captain the team or organise their social events? Were you Player of the Year last year?

Again, try and tailor your interests towards the placement. 

For example, if you’re applying for a language placement, and you show no evidence of extra-curricular interest in languages, the recruiter will wonder if you have an interest in the role.

#7 References

You don’t need to give your references’ contact details at the end of your placement CV. Rather, ‘references available upon request’ will be fine for now.

An employer would normally contact your references once you’ve been given a job offer.

Ask your references first if they’re happy to be contacted and what their preferred mode of contact is… it’ll make it 5000 times easier.

Want to set yourself up for success in any future work experience application? Sign up to our FREE Career Coaching Course, a four-day virtual programme in October, to upskill yourself on CVs, applications and interviews.

CV do’s & don’ts

Here are a few expert tips to consider when writing your CV for placements and work experience:

Check your spelling and grammar

Don’t just rely on spellcheck. Ask your friends, family or university careers service to have a look at your CV before you send it off.

This will minimise the chances of your application going straight into the reject pile. Spell the company’s name wrong, and your CV will be set upon by a pack of starving hounds.

Give lots of evidence

If you’re struggling to think of different examples to demonstrate your skills, have a think about extra-curricular activities that might help illustrate them.

For example, if you’re in a sports team, even if it is Ultimate Frisbee, think about teamwork, leadership and organisational skills.

Employers lose their minds for teamwork, leadership and organisation skills.

Tailor your CV to the placement

Businesses look for students who have the same values and qualities as their brand. Research the values and vision of the company you are applying to first and then give examples of why you are a good match.

If you think you’re ready to jump aboard to career train, get yourself over to our jobs board. There you’ll find hundreds of roles with some of the Best Student Employers in the land.

The post How to Write a Placement CV appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

There are 101 different names for a placement year. An industrial placement year, a year in industry OR even a sandwich course.

No matter which term you’ve heard, they all mean the same thing — a year spent in-between your second and third year of university where you work for a top dog company, gaining first-hand work experience and earning money.

A placement is work. A real-life job – and that can be scary. There are a few things to consider when deciding if a placement year is right for you. So we’ve put together a pros and cons list to make things a little clearer.

You can click below to jump directly to the pros and cons list or keep reading for some placement goodness…

• Who can do an industrial placement year?
• The pros and cons of a placement year
• Case Study: What is it really like to do a placement year?

Who can do an industrial placement year?

Some degrees include a placement year as part of the course. This is common for business students or those studying banking or engineering. Their three-year course is extended to four years, with a placement in between their second and final year of university.

Can anyone do a placement year?

Yes and no. It depends on your university and your course…

Let’s say you’re an English Literature student. You’re sick of reading two days into your course, and you’ve always thought, ‘I’d be fabulous at advertising’.

So instead of regretting your UCAS application, you could potentially apply for a placement year in advertising and marketing. It might not be advertised to you, but it may still be an option.

The best thing to do is contact your university’s placement or careers team and find out if you can apply for one and defer your final year. If everything works out, you will have hands-on experience in your chosen field before leaving university.

Can’t do a placement? Apply for an internship instead

Remember – anyone and everyone can do an internship. So if a placement year doesn’t sound like your cup of peppermint tea or your course doesn’t offer one, you can still apply for a sunny summer internship.

It might be your only chance to get a taste of something different. For example, if you’re studying to become a doctor, you could do a summer internship for Walt Disney!

So… are placement years worth it?

Sometimes, the best thing to do when you’re weighing something up is to make a list of why you should or shouldn’t do it. This doesn’t count when it comes to pineapple on pizza – there is no good reason to put pineapple on pizza. 

We’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you decide whether a placement year would be worth it for YOU.

Want to impress an employer with your application and land the top job? Sign up to our FREE Career Coaching Course, a four-day virtual programme in October, to upskill yourself on CVs, applications and interviews.

PROS of doing a placement

You’ll have industry-level work experience before you even graduate

Get ahead of the game. By completing a placement year, you automatically increase your chances of securing a graduate job. All the big graduate employers look for candidates who have completed work experience before graduation.

You might get a job from your placement employers. This means not having to apply for unpaid internships or work experience where your salary barely covers the essentials.

It can open opportunities to network and potentially open doors for your future

The idea of “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is a bit of a cliché. However, networking and building a rapport with your colleagues during your placement could be useful for future job prospects.

Even if you don’t get offered a permanent role at the end of your placement, you’ll get yourself a killer reference for your CV.

You can test-drive a career before you take the plunge with a full-time job

Imagine you’re in an ice cream shop. You have SO much choice. That’s precisely what it’s like when you graduate. 

There’s almost too much choice. And it’s scary because what if you make the wrong decision and end up with a rubbish job or a cucumber ice cream?

Imagine the disappointment. So by doing a placement, you can test-drive a career you’ve always dreamed about before taking the plunge with a full-time job.

Gain the independence you always wanted

Adulting… spending money on stuff that you’d always assumed was free. If you relocate for your placement (which happens often), you’ll officially be adulting! 

You’ll most likely be living with entirely new people, potentially young professionals, which means… no more student digs or parents cleaning up after you. And although it’s a sad day when you realise that the bathroom doesn’t clean itself, it’s also liberating. 

FINALLY, you get a taste of independence.

You could travel abroad

Did you know that you can work abroad for your placement year? Not only are you getting all the benefits from doing a placement year, but you’re also exposing yourself to new cultures, a new language and new FOOD.

CONS of a placement year

It’ll take you a year longer to graduate

If you choose to do a placement, you’ll graduate a year later and maybe not with your friends. But, in the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t really matter.

You’ll make friends during your year in industry and your third year. So technically, you’ll have more friends than when you first started.

You’ll have to juggle applications and uni work

You have several essays on the go, two exams to revise for, and now you have to worry about getting a CV and cover letter together and then attending interviews…

The application process can be long, and you might be missing a lecture or two. However, your lecturers and course leaders will totally be understanding and can even offer you support. If you do decide to pursue a placement year, speak to them.

When the time comes to apply for a graduate role, you’ll have already learned a great deal about the application process and how best to approach it.

There’s always the worry that you won’t enjoy the company

You might start your placement and initially not enjoy it. This could be down to anything. You might not fit in with the company, dislike the culture, or just miss your dog back home. It happens. 

BUT that’s why we have reviews as well as opportunities. These are incredibly helpful. You can gain an insight into the company before you apply – get an idea of their work culture… you never know; it may be a dog-friendly office! So take the time to read through the reviews! 

Every review has been written by a former placement student, so you can find out what they really thought about their experience. Think of it like TripAdvisor, but for placement years.

You might have to relocate for a year

When you go to university, the chances are you’ll have to move out and relocate. And it’s the same when you do a placement.

This means you’ll have to find somewhere to live in an area you might not know well. Pay rent and buy your own cheese grater. It’s stressful and a huge adjustment, but moving out can be fun and prepares you for real life.

For example, London is bursting full of placements, and it can be a great city to live in. But this comes with its expenses. You’ll have to budget yourself and be more organised than an air traffic control officer. But in the end, it could be SO worth it.

Case Study: What is it really like to do a placement year?

Meet Shoaib. He eats way too many Nutella pancakes, but he’s also a personal branding expert and business owner.

Shoaib has many talents… aside from his dancing, he has a first-class honours degree in Geography.

During his second year, Shoaib decided he wanted to try his hand at marketing. After SLAYING the interviews AND the assessment centre, he absolutely thrived during a marketing placement with us here at RateMyPlacement.

Shoaib made a tremendous impact during his time at RateMyPlacement. He’s travelled all over the UK, managing events for us and delivering presentations in front of top company directors – including one at London’s tallest building, The Shard. 

Shoaib also had a lot of admin responsibilities. He moderated all of the RateMyPlacement reviews, responded to website inquiries, and booked events, which created an unnatural relationship with post-it notes.

Not to mention his collaboration with other members of the team. He worked closely with our content team, writing regular blogs, newsletters, marketing emails and B2C content.

Shoaib also collaborated with the creative team and our digital marketing manager to maximise our social media platforms, which he does incredibly well.

Shoaib was a valued member of the team. He never ran out of projects to work on, but also had the freedom to put forward his creative ideas and execute them, which he took full advantage of.

Now, he owns a personal branding agency working with CEOs and founders to create powerful branding that gets them noticed.

He’s doing some brilliant work. To find out more or read his inspiringly honest posts, follow Shoaib on LinkedIn.

So, will a placement year be worth it for you?

Mostly yes. 

If you’ve not entirely made up your mind, have a read of our Guide to Placements. 

It’s also always good to see what types of placements are available. Luckily for you, we have loads of placements on our jobs board.

The post The Pros and Cons of Doing a Placement Year appeared first on RateMyPlacement.