If you don’t know exactly what direction you want to take in your field of work, work placements are a great way to figure that out.
Find your path and start early
If you need help putting together your CV, MDX Works offers a CV review service. If you have a dream company you want to work for in the future, be bold and contact them directly, if they don’t publically advertise internships, why not call them directly and make contact with their relevant department, who knows maybe you could be their first intern. | Respond promptly
If you get a response from any of the places you applied to asking you for more information or inviting you for an interview, respond with the relevant information ASAP! Promptness can go a long way when it comes to impressing your potential employer and help you stand out from the rest. However, being able to respond quickly with any application documents or example work requested, requires you to… | Be ready & stay ready
Staying ready is just as important on a day to day basis, when networking in general, you never know who you may meet that can present you with an opportunity. Having things like an up to date CV, personal template cover letters, business cards, up to date portfolios and references are important to staying ready whenever the opportunity presents itself. MDXWorks can help you with learning about what application documents you should have and what those documents should look like. |
Network, network, network
Don’t stop with the people you know, why not attend related professional industry events loaded with your business cards through sites like Eventbrite, or try and find interest groups on campus through Societies, or in London through interest group sites like Meet Up. | Follow up
After sending in your applications, it is good practise to follow the up your application by calling a day or two later to ensure it has been received, especially if the deadline for applications is imminent. Calling in to a company can also be an effective way to make yourself known and show your strong interest in an opportunity. | Research & Prepare
If you land that all important interview it’s time to research and prepare. Schedule in times between the moments you get those exciting calls or emails to research the company’s website, including their mission statement and relevant staff and their structures if possible. A common question in an interview scenario is ‘how much do you know about this company?’ and you need to be able to answer it well. Skim reading their websites will only take you so far, here’s some tips of what you can do to earn some bonus points:
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Start by 
It’s important that if that time comes, you are ready with any relevant documentation that may help you land that placement, or who knows, maybe even your first graduate job. Being aware of what documents or information your potential employer may ask you for is important so you can respond quickly.
Networking can present you with opportunities that may not necessarily exist otherwise and you may not need to reach out too far to find opportunities. Start with your immediate networks, your friends, family and their networks, you may find placement opportunities there; especially if they’re aware you’re looking for one.
