by Stephanie Riley

Final Year, Advertising and Brand Communications

What advice would you give someone who’s about to start applying for a placement?
I’m back for my final year at The Manchester Metropolitan University after a year out on placement as a Marketing & Comms Assistant.


Here’s just a few of my top tips for anyone about to dive into the wild world of placement applications 👇

🧠 Know what you actually want
When lecturers said “think about what you want from a placement,” I thought “I just need a placement, I will take anything”. But seriously, think about what kind of role and organisation suits you. Would you be happy with a long commute? What modules have you enjoyed and done well at? Would it be maintainable for you to be on-site 5 days a week? Do you like the work culture? Would you be happy being there for a full year? If you’re going to do a placement, make sure it’s the right one for you and worth a year out.



📄 Tailor your CV
I remember when I was first told this and was like “what the hell does that mean?”. Pick out key words from the job description and weave them into your CV, or even think about changing the design to match the organisation’s branding. Remember, you need to stand out. I still find it tricky, but it works.

📚 Use what the uni gives you
Go to the library skills sessions on CVs. Talk to your lecturers. Go to the networking events, even if you feel awkward. This is the time to use every resource you’ve got. Even if you’re scared – do it scared. You’ll thank yourself later.

😄 Personality counts
When I got my role, my team said my positive, chatty vibe helped me stand out (along with my gorgeous cv of course). If you’ve made it to the interview, don’t be afraid to show who you are. People want someone they’ll actually enjoy working with. Nothing wrong with being the personality hire!


🎄 Don’t panic before Christmas
I didn’t get my placement until April. Most of the people on my course didn’t either. But starting early helped me prep my CV, get better at interviews, and figure out what I was doing. So do make sure to pace yourself.


🎨 Creative task? Go for it!
I submitted a creative piece to PUMA Group that got me an interview. Now, I didn’t end up going as I’d already accepted the wonderful placement I’ve just done, but its always good to have an example. I researched everything from their campaigns with Jay Z and Formula 1 and tailored it all to their brand (I’m an Advertising & Brand Comms student, after all). If they give you space to be creative, use it.



🚨 A placement isn’t everything
This sounds like blasphemy I know. Is a placement great for experience, your CV, and personal development? Yes. Will you crash and burn if you don’t get one? Absolutely not. You can go straight into the third year and still have an incredible career. There’s loads to get involved with at uni, and short internships/shadowing are great ways to get some experience.