Theo - Student Life

Why did I choose to do the Micro-placement Scheme? 

I chose the micro-placement Scheme for many reasons. Firstly, the flexible hours played a huge part as being at university means your workload varies, meaning it could fit around my studies. For example, I’ve had part time jobs in the past with little flexibility and when I’ve had large amounts of university work with tight deadlines it put me under considerable pressure. The real-life work experience of the scheme was also a key reason. Being able to get valuable work experience in the possible sectors I am looking to go into is hugely beneficial as it would make me much more employable in the future. Another factor was the opportunity to network and meet with others around the university that I perhaps have not had the chance to meet before, meaning I’d be able to acquire more opportunities in and around the university. 

What have I learnt and gained from the Micro-placement Scheme? 

Overall, I felt that one of the key things I gained from the micro-placement was the sheer amount of real working experience. Being able to go behind the scenes at the university and apply different aspects of my course in the student life centre on various projects was invaluable. The rebranding project, for example, where I was helped out with marketing which was a key part of my degree. It was also beneficial to my experience when I helped develop the university website i.e., adding updated content allowed me to apply some of the knowledge from my studies.  

The staff were extremely supportive, and I gained practical knowledge and skills from them as well as being made to feel a welcome member of the team. I also feel that the scheme allowed me to further develop my organisational and planning skills, by having to balance both my assignments and work from the micro-placement scheme. I was given the opportunity to present my findings to others, for example one presentation was on the different ways that feedback on the Student Life Centre could be obtained. Overall, these presentations and the feedback I received helped with my confidence, presentation and communication skills. 

Would I recommend it to other students? 

Yes 100%. I think that the micro-placement scheme is the one of the best part time jobs you can do while studying at the university. With the flexibility of hours, everyone being so friendly, the chance to gain valuable work experience, all making it a fantastic opportunity for anyone studying at the university. I would most definitely recommend this opportunity to any students who want to add some valuable work experience to their CV. For example, I found it highly beneficial to draw on my micro-placement experience when speaking to prospective employers.