From dissertations to exams, planning a graduation fit and looking for a graduate job or scheme, we know there’s loads to think about. So to help you get on top of your applications and secure that all-important role, we’ve created your ultimate graduate job timeline.

Inside you’ll find all the key dates and top tips. Click below! It’s free.

Graduate Tips

Once you’ve downloaded your timeline check out all the advice below to help you slay the graduation application process like an absolute boss.

A Guide to Graduate Jobs

Find out everything there is to know about graduate jobs and schemes, the difference, who’s hiring and how to apply.

Writing a Graduate CV

Your staring point: a CV that shows off your skills and grabs an employer’s attention. We’ve also included a free template!

Writing a Graduate Cover Letter

A good CV comes with a great cover letter. Here’s how to write one.

Be Interview Ready

Have you been invited to an interview? That’s great! Here’s everything you should expect including commonly asked questions and how to answer them.

Feeling ready to jump in? We have over 300 graduate roles waiting for your application. Click below to get started.

The post The Ultimate Graduate Job Timeline appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

So you’re back at uni, and into the swing of things. Only this time, you’ve got an application to get your head around too – your placement year application. 

We know how tough it is knowing what to apply for and when, especially with all those lectures and seminars popping up. So we’ve put together a placement year timeline to help you navigate your application journey with ease.

It’ll guide you through everything from application deadlines to interview prep, assessment centres to call-back days.

What’s in the timeline?

Well… many things. We’ve created this timeline to guide you through your placement year application, ramp up your employability and give you a step up on the career ladder.

Let’s take a sneak peek of what it all includes…

September – November: This is when we have the most roles live on RateMyPlacement. So now is the time to apply, apply, apply!

December – January: Every company differs, but most will invite you for first-stage interviews around this time. It can be tough, but our biggest advice is not to compare yourself to others. Everyone has a different journey to finding their placement.

February – April: You’ll start attending final interviews and assessment centres. Haven’t found your placement yet? There’s still time. We have roles going live all year round so keep your eyes peeled for any that take your fancy and apply as soon as you can.

May – August: Congrats! Now’s the time you’ll find out you’ve secured that placement. Next, you’ll need to find accommodation for the year ahead and apply for your maintenance loan.

Find all the information you need about what to do with your student finance and accommodation in our go-to guide to industrial placements.

The post The Ultimate Placement Year Timeline appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

• You won’t get left in the dark
• Everyone gets imposter syndrome 
• Don’t be afraid to say no 
• Work-life balance 
• Commuting really isn’t bad

You won’t get left in the dark

Every company will be different when it comes to the handover. If you are fortunate enough to have the past placement student there to teach you everything you need to know, ask as many questions as humanly possible. 

It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed, but with the support of your manager and your other colleagues, you’ll make it through, because in no time you’ll become an expert.  

Here are 5 things to do within your first month: 

• Set up meetings with different people within the business, find out everything you possibly can! 
• If your job involves metrics (like mine), write down all the figures at the start to track your progression, such as the number of followers for example
• Try to be in the office as much as you can – this is the only way to get to know those around you 
• Ask questions and seek feedback – your placement is not only about doing your job but improving within it too
• Set yourself clear goals for what you expect to achieve within the first 6 months.

Everyone gets imposter syndrome 

As an extremely (what I thought) outgoing person, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be writing this. However, this has been and still is a huge part of my placement. 

Especially when coming forward with ideas, or even talking in the weekly company-wide meeting. It can be DAUNTING talking in front of people who have lived and breathed the company and industry for years. It’s been a struggle, like when your lecturer asks a question you 200% know the answer to but won’t put your hand up because you think you might say the wrong answer…

You just need to take yourself out of your comfort zone. You have a unique point of view and people want to hear that. Believe in yourself, and remember, imposter syndrome bites everyone. Even senior colleagues.

Having a mentor for these exact reasons really helps, as you can share your thoughts and queries and they’ll go ahead and encourage you to share them.

Along with having a mentor, getting to know your colleagues is also so important on your placement journey. Never have the thought, ‘well why would they want to speak to the placement student’, everyone, I repeat everyone wants to see you thrive, so reach out, ask questions and get those connections on LinkedIn!! 

Don’t be afraid to say no 

When you start your placement, you’ll have to juggle many different tasks and responsibilities to complete each week. Before starting my placement, I thought I would feel the pressure of taking on as many things as possible, yet I’ve now learned that people appreciate you have a lot on your plate, so they’ll always ask what your capacity is like before setting more work.

Getting a diary together and making to-do lists is key to staying on top of tasks and prioritising future work. Plan out your days, and don’t be afraid to block out time in your calendar so people know you are busy.

Work-life balance 

This is a HUGE one for ensuring you have the best possible placement year. I thought it would look bad on the placement student for taking time out and not constantly working. But as it turns out, it’s the complete opposite. Your employer wants you to enjoy your year. 

Taking time out to maintain a healthy lifestyle is important for your wellbeing and will ensure maximum success in your role. You need to make sure you don’t burn out, so whether you have an extended lunch break to go to the gym or take an early finish on a Friday to start your weekend off right. If it helps you feel better, it has our vote.

Commuting really isn’t bad

If you’re like me, you may be slightly stressed about your living situation during your placement. I chose to live outside of London and commute like the money-savvy responsible adult I am. 

I wish I could tell my past self that it really isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, yes of course it means I work from home more. However, with our flexible working policy, this worked in my favour. 

Being able to network and be social with my team was also a huge concern when making this decision, as getting involved as much as possible with your company culture while on placement year is vital. This has been easy as there are so many pre-organised socials to get involved in!

Stressed about how you are going to save AND afford accommodation while on placement?

So that’s a wrap, if you are preparing for your placement, let me tell you one thing, you’ll love it! I haven’t regretted a single moment of my year. 

Or if you are thinking about doing a placement, we now have Register Your Interest roles live RIGHT NOW from companies such as The Walt Disney Company, UBS and L’Oréal!

The post 5 Things I’ve Learned on my Placement Year appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

It’s not uncommon for there to be 50-100 applicants for an internship, meaning recruiters often have to sift through an unholy number of CVs.

So your CV needs to grab their attention quickly. Not unlike speed-dating, you should be looking to impress in the first 30 seconds otherwise they’ll lose interest.

Our ultimate step-by-step guide to writing a CV for an internship (complete with examples and a downloadable template) will help you land more interviews than you know what to do with.

• What is an internship CV?
• Internship CV template
• How to use ChatGPT to write your CV

What is an internship CV?

There is so much more to an internship than making tea and photocopying. An internship is a real job with real responsibility, and securing one requires a real CV.

A CV for an internship is the same as any other professional CV, except it will focus more on your key skills than previous work experience. (So don’t worry if you haven’t stepped foot in an office before – this won’t rule you out of the game.)

You can do an internship or insight day even if you’re a fledgling first year. Getting in early is a good idea because if you slay, you could be fast-tracked for a placement or graduate job.

So get that internship CV sorted out, pronto. It’ll do wonders for your career.

Internship CV template

There’s nothing more daunting than starting with a blank page. Instead, start by downloading our FREE template, which features all the sections you should include in your CV. 

TOP TIP: Fill out the template as you work your way through the steps below. Just remember to replace the text with your own words and proofread your CV before you send it. 

Want to create your template from scratch? You don’t need to be a graphic design whizz to secure your dream internship… but there are a few style choices that will help elevate your CV.

• Stick to a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman.
• Use a consistent colour scheme and 1 to 1.5-point spacing to stay professional. 
• Ditch logos and profile images. Employers don’t need to see your latest selfie! 
• Keep your CV template clean and simple. A plain Word doc or PDF is fine.

What you should (and shouldn’t) include in your CV 

First and foremost, you should always tailor your CV towards the specific internship, industry and company you are applying for. 

As tempting as it is to send one CV out to multiple companies, don’t. It’s not a good look and recruiters can spot this a mile off. Showing that you have made the effort to research the employer and what they are looking for will have them leaping for joy.

Now, follow these seven simple steps to nail your application every time…

STEP 1: Contact Details

Start by including your full name, phone number and email address (make sure this isn’t something unprofessional like groovygal99@gmail.com). 

Put your details at the top of the page so that it’s easy for recruiters to get in touch with you about next steps. You could even write your name in bold and use a bigger font so it stands out.

There is absolutely no need to include a photograph or any personal details, such as your date of birth or gender. If you have an online portfolio, relevant blog or LinkedIn account, you can link to those by converting your CV into a PDF.

STEP 2: Your Profile

Your CV profile is a short paragraph (no longer than five sentences) that should…

• Introduce who you are
• Explain why you are interested in the internship
• Briefly highlight your career aspirations

Keep it brief and focused on the type of internship you are applying for.

If you’re applying for an internship at an accounting firm, for example, it would be a terrible idea to ramble on about your cat, your love of the clarinet and your weakness for hummus.

Instead, describe yourself as an ‘analytical and methodical thinker’. Emphasise your ‘keen interest in accounting practices‘ and ‘seeing how an accountancy firm functions in a professional environment’. This way, the recruiter will be super impressed.

Hear from the RateMyPlacement Team what NOT to do when writing your internship CV… 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RateMyPlacement | Find paid internships & placements (@ratemyplacement_official)

STEP 3: Key Skills

Some folks try to shovel their key skills and talents into their profile. There’s a better way of doing this. Put together a list of bullet points that highlight your strengths and skills.

To stand out from other applicants, try focusing on the soft skills that all employers are looking for, including…

• Dealing with conflict
• Negotiating/influencing
• Resilience
• Time management
• Problem-solving

Add 4-5 of your own. Check the job description for the specific skills the internship requires.

STEP 4: Education

Reverse chronological order is preferred by most recruiters and ATS (the software used to scan CVs), so start with your most recent qualifications.

If you’ve just finished your A-Levels, put those grades first and your GCSEs after. You also don’t have to mention what grades you achieved for every subject.

If you do this…

• Physical Education – A
• History – B
• French – C
• Chemistry – A

… you are wasting lots of space on your CV. Remember, a CV for an internship shouldn’t exceed two pages. Here’s an example of how this could look…

A-levels: History – A, English Literature – A, Product Design – B

GCSEs: four 9’s, five 8’s, two 7’s (English – 9, Mathematics – 8)

If you are currently studying at university, providing a predicted grade is acceptable. Write – ‘currently working towards a BA (Hons) English Literature (2:1).’ You may also want to include any end-of-year results or standout marks in relevant modules. 

Level up with our FREE online session: Build An Effective CV, run in partnership with Sage and The University of Law.

STEP 5: Previous Employment / Work Experience

Writing your very first CV can be tricky. As tricky as eating a packet of crisps in the library. How on earth do you write a CV for an internship if you haven’t got any experience? 

The best way round this is to think about what defines you beyond your academic achievements – have you, for example… 

• Volunteered in your local community or organised an event?
• Picked up some technical skills like coding or PhotoShop?
• Joined a sports team or society at university? 

If you do have previous professional experience, you should list your key responsibilities to show what you can bring to a role. Your key skills are there to whet the appetite. But this section is where you give evidence of those skills.

As always, try to match what the employer is looking for. For example, if they are looking for ‘problem solvers who are full of initiative’, tell them about a time you solved a problem at work.

You should also ensure that you give start and end dates for each job, so the recruiter knows you don’t have three jobs on the go. If you were working at Ikea, The Rose and Crown and the Pukka Pie factory at the same time, you would hardly have the time to do an internship.

STEP 6: Interests

This section of your CV is totally optional, but it can be a useful way of showing recruiters you have what it takes to do the job – even if you don’t have the experience. 

Did you gain any relevant skills at school or uni, like time management or public speaking? Did you win an award? Or captain a basketball team? 

Craft your interests and extracurricular activities to portray yourself as the ideal candidate for that specific internship. So for a marketing internship, you could share how you built your online personal brand on LinkedIn or set up a successful TikTok fashion account. 

If you’re applying for an internship, they might ask for a cover letter too. Here’s our guide to Writing an Internship Cover Letter. It features a pretty good joke about getting in (and out) of skinny jeans.

STEP 7: References

Employers typically ask for you to provide two references. It’s a good idea to choose somebody you know academically. A tutor or teacher perhaps. And somebody you have worked with, such as a manager or superior colleague.

Your mum or dad will not suffice. No matter how charming a reference they would provide.

You do not have to provide the details of your referees when you first send your CV. Write –

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

The recruiter will contact you if they are impressed by your CV and wish to speak to your referees. And that’s it!

Triple-check that your spelling and grammar is on point. Grab yourself a packet of Frazzles, and wait for the internship offers to start pouring in…

How to use ChatGPT to write your CV

If you’re still stuck for inspiration or need some extra help creating your CV template, you can always try ChatGPT.

This free chatbot is on everyone’s lips at the moment. But did you know that as well as telling it to read you Harry Potter in a Welsh accent or write a hit grime rap in seconds, you can use it to take your internship CV game to the next level? 

PROS

• You can create a full internship CV in less time than it takes to make a cuppa
• ChatGPT can even research potential employers and tell you about their values/culture
• It allows you to focus on the content of your CV, rather than structure or grammar
• You can access it any time, anywhere

CONS

• ChatGPT has limited knowledge of anything that happened after 2021 so its research may be out-of-date and not always accurate
• It doesn’t have the same attention to detail as a human (yet) so is not error-proof
• It may not fully understand the specifics of your experience and career goals 
• It won’t be able to capture your personality or unique writing style 
• The Advanced CV Checker requires ChatGPT Plus, which will set you back around £25 for an annual membership

With that in mind, it is essential that you still take the time to carefully check your CV before sending it out to recruiters. To help ChatGPT on its way, make sure you include as much detail as possible about the job description and your own experience, for example… 

“Hi ChatGPT, my name is [NAME] and I need your help creating a CV for a law internship that highlights my skills and strengths. I am currently doing a degree in History at Newcastle University and have previously attended an insight day at Linklaters. I am applying for a summer internship with the law firm DLA Piper, and they are looking for candidates who are self-starters and independent thinkers…” etc.

Then, simply wait for ChatGPT to work its magic – and voilà! You’ve got yourself an internship CV.

The post How to Write an Internship CV (With Template) appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

Well, here we are? Last month I assessed eight people for the job. What were my key takeaways you ask?

Here are six things I picked up on that you should try doing at your assessment centre!

• Be in the moment
• Be confident and authentic
• Read the brief thoroughly
• Don’t go on a tangent
• Stand out!
• Show excitement

Be in the moment

Forget about your phone! 

The best thing you can do on the day is make the most out of the process. Make conversation with as many people as possible. Doing this will…

1. Settle your nerves 
2. Allow you to get to know the people you could potentially be working for in the future!

Even while you’re waiting for your interview or presentation, your interviewers will still be looking at how you can communicate with others – so be sociable and make friends with your fellow candidates!

We know what you’re thinking, that would totally be out of your comfort zone but don’t worry we have some tips for you!

Be confident and authentic 

We know, we’ve all been there, out of your comfort zone and instantly forgetting everything you’ve prepared. Believe it or not, nerves are actually good. 

Don’t let them stop you from being your best self. 

The reality is that employers aren’t going to expect you to have a ton of work experience or even be uber confident in your interviews.

For many students, this will be one of their very first formal interviews, so don’t stress you are not the only one

Hear from some of RateMyPlacement’s finest as they give you tips on how to prep yourself the day before an assessment centre. (Very cool jacket is not included, sorry!)

Read the brief thoroughly 

Yes, this is an obvious one… most assessment centres require you to come prepared with a presentation about a certain topic!

This could be a marketing brief or a sales pitch for example. Where you’ll be given around 2 weeks to come up with as many well rounded ideas as possible and make a slide deck to go with them.

Read the brief carefully so that you hit every point perfectly. This is your chance to show the employer what you can do without the pressure of being observed while preparing it. 

This is an important one to get right as it sets a first impression for your work ethic and ability to listen to instructions. So if it states to email the presentation 24 hours before the assessment centre… do it!

Don’t just take it from us take it from past placement students as well:

“Ask questions that you are curious about to show your interest and include information from the job application”

Accounting Intern at Enterprise Mobility

“Do not be afraid to be yourself and demonstrate that you are willing to work hard, be creative and think outside the box”

Associate Placement at Wiser

Prepping for an assessment centre soon? Read our Top Tips to placement interviews and assessment centres

Don’t go on a tangent 

The job description is like a little sweet treat for your career journey… they provide little clues as to what the ideal candidate looks like to the employer. 

During an interview, the employer will be looking out for key skills that have been clearly stated in the job description, make sure you look over this before your assessment centre and use the STAR technique to avoid rambling! 

These skills may include: 

• Communication skills 
• Problem solving 
• Team work 
• Time management 

Are you thinking, I totally have all of these skills? Make sure to include these within your interview answers along with EVIDENCE of when you’ve shown them. Such as your teamwork and communication skills you used on the BUSIEST hospitality shift of your life, anything you’ve completed or achieved will have shown you doing multiple skills, don’t overcomplicate it.

It’s also important during your interview to be completely honest, even down to not understanding the question for example.

 “Never EVER lie. Don’t even embellish. If you lack some skills, highlight these as points you seek to improve. You will have plenty of other positive skills that will show an employer your potential”

Hear from Industry experts

It’s so important to be transparent during the application process for the best chances of success in your new role!

Feeling a bit lost in your application journey? Don’t worry you aren’t alone. For some relatable reassurance read A Placement Student’s Experience of The Application Process.

Stand out!

If your assessment centre presentation brief was like the one we sent out, it will include key actions you can do to really impress us! So why wouldn’t you take that advice? 

Think outside the box, what can you include into your presentation that other candidates won’t have thought of?

Here’s a few examples of how you can stand out in your presentation!

• Conducting your own research through surveys to back up your points (I did this one)
• Printing assets to hand out – such as flyers or posts (dependant on brief)
• Going the extra mile to make the presentation fit the branding
• Making the presentation super interactive for the audience.

If you’re still stuck, reach out to lecturers, university professors or ask previous placement students for more insight.

Show excitement

We want to see enthusiasm! 

For any role this is crucial, but this rings a little bit louder when applying for an internship or placement. Your passion and excitement for the role needs to make up for your lack of experience.

Employers will generally be looking for someone who can work well in a team, bring new ideas forward and is eager to learn everything about their new role.

If you don’t show your excitement and enthusiasm, it may affect your chances of getting a job offer.

So make sure you fully prepare to give yourself the best chance of success and to show who you really are instead of stressing about what you are going to say.

Still applying for placements, but wondering what your day could potentially look like, read our A Day in the Life of a Marketing Placement Student for more insight!

I know it’s easier said than done, but you are gonna SMASH IT and even if you don’t get it the first time, the experience and feedback will be invaluable to you for your next try! 

Just relax, take a breath and be your best self.

Good luck!

The post On the Other Side of an Assessment Centre appeared first on RateMyPlacement.

Want the inside scoop on smashing your assessment centre? Rhea, our placement student for 2023 / 2024 is here to give you all her top tips.

I’m sure you’ve come across those annoyingly productive student micro-influencers who wake up at 6:00am and prepare every day for three weeks in advance of their assessment centre. It’s daunting. We know. 

The good news is you don’t have to drop the rest of your life and eat, think, breathe assessment centres for the weeks leading up to it. You’d become a zombie!

68% of UK employers use assessment centres as part of their recruitment process. So it’s definitely worth doing some planning before the big day.

Here’s some simple tactics you can use to put your best foot forward on Assessment Centre Day.

1) Research the company

What services or products do they provide? How do they make their money? Who are their customers? What is their company culture? These are just a few questions to get you started on thinking WHO your potential future employer is. 

You want to get a feel for them – know them inside and out. 

A good exercise could be to try and draw up a picture of the company’s personality as if the brand were human. This gives you a good indication of the kind of firm they are.

2) Pre-preparation material

Most assessment centres require you to come prepared with a presentation about a certain topic. That’s good! You can really take your time on this. Without feeling the pressure of being observed. 

So, take full advantage. Talk to your lecturers, university professors or ask advice from previous placement students and craft your perfect presentation.

3) Read through the job description

The job description is like a map leading you to the treasure chest (that’s the placement). Look inside it for clues on what you will be tested on. 

Make sure you have examples from your personal, academic and/or professional life to demonstrate your competencies and you’ll be one step closer to reaching the placement treasure it points towards.

4) Rehearse common interview questions

Some assessment centres embed an interview as part of their application. So it’s a good idea to have some answers prepared beforehand.

Have a look at our blog post Common Internship Interview Questions for some questions that are sure to come up. Think of how you’d answer them.

Keeping these tips in mind, we have one last, crucial tip for you: stay calm!

If you have made it this far in the recruitment process, you deserve a pat on the back. You’re here for a reason and the company clearly likes you. Now is your chance to decide whether to swipe right on them or not. 

It’s going to be a long-term relationship after all. View the assessment centre as a chance for you to get to know employers, ask questions and see if they take your fancy? 

The post A 2nd Year Student’s Top Tips on How to Prepare for an Assessment Centre 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.

Did you know that a lot of the skills you possess are transferable? Let’s get into it.

Transferable skills are all the rage, and for good reason too. Employers absolutely love them and are falling over themselves wanting to hire people who can demonstrate them well.

Read on to find out all about transferable skills and what they are.

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are exactly that. Skills that can be transferred between jobs and even industries.

You’ll have spent a huge amount of time honing these skills whether during a work experience opportunity, your studies, volunteering or in extracurricular activities (hobbies). You can use these skills in a variety of fields and workplace situations and tasks.

Transferable skills can be a mix of hard and soft skills. 

For example, communication is a soft skill that every role requires. Data analytics is a hard skill that you can use in marketing as well as finance.

Why are transferable skills so important?

These skills are important because they show employers what you can bring to the role, how you’ll fit in and that you actually retain what you’ve picked up at previous work experiences.

Even if you don’t have all the experience in the world, your transferable skills are what will give you a real chance at landing that all-important role.

Employers are keen to meet talented students, so no matter what your background might be – there’s a place for you. That’s the importance of transferable skills.

Hear from employers themselves as they delve into what they’re looking for on your CV and how you can show off your relevant skills.

Working out which transferable skills you have

Looking at what skills you do have is a good practice to take on. It’ll help you understand;

• What is it you’re really good at
• Where you could always improve
• How to link everything to the work experience you’ve had.

If you’ve already had work experience through a placement or an internship or even other kinds of work experience, check the job description. What were some of the skills you already had? What skills did you develop while you were there?

Write those down! Think about all the times you used those skills and what the outcomes were. Trust us, they’re going to come in handy.

Keen to find out what those transferable skills are? Read on, we’re breaking them down.

Did you know you could pick up transferable skills whilst at university?

Read 8 Transferable Skills You Can Learn at University

Examples of transferable skills

There are as many transferable skills as there are Kardashian heirs, hundreds. So don’t see this list as an exhaustive list of every single skill but more as a guide to what these skills are. We’ll split these up into soft and hard skills.

Soft Skills

Negotiation

We use this every day, whether that’s to barter a market seller down from £5 for a pound of plantains (robbery) to £2.50 or to discuss salary with a potential employer.

Negotiation is more than just talking money. It’s useful for conflict resolution and problem-solving. Having negotiation skills means you’re able to listen and speak to all parties involved in order to come to a mutual agreement.

Public speaking

Do not underestimate the amount of times you’re going to have to speak during your job. Whether that’s presenting ideas in a group setting, hosting and moderating a group discussion or doing a presentation, having public speaking skills will help you get through those moments with ease and confidence.

Critical thinking

The best thing about critical thinking is that it encompasses a wide range of skills including planning, decision-making and analytical thinking.

Critical thinking is all about looking at the facts and being able to form a judgement and solution. Having critical thinking shows you to be someone who is rational and can react to situations with a clear mind rather than emotions.

Professionalism

Think of professionalism as a way to carry yourself when you’re at the workplace. Employers are looking for people who are responsible, productive and a team player. Professionalism is also a collection of various skills that include communication, problem-solving, teamwork and flexibility.

Some honourable mentions include:

Hard Skills

Computer skills

All those ICT lessons have come in handy. Computer skills are considered hard skills. More so when it comes to specific programmes. These can include being able to use Microsoft Office, Adobe and operating systems. 

Coding

Coding comes in handy for those who are looking for work in the IT sector. However, it can be just as useful in other industries such as marketing, fashion and finance. There are loads of free courses, including Code Academy, if you’re looking to add the old HTML under your belt.

Language skills

Having another language or two under your belt can be useful and can translate across industries. Several jobs might require you to speak a specific language and can even open up the doors to working abroad permanently or a few times a year. 

Ready to show off those transferable skills? We have loads of placements, internships and graduate roles available. Click below to get started.

The post What Are Transferable Skills? appeared first on RateMyPlacement.