I’m sure you’ve been hearing left, right and centre about the graduate job market right now being genuinely brutal. A recent UK report by the Institute of Student Employers found that around 1.2 million applications were submitted for just 17,000 graduate roles, with employers receiving roughly 140 applications per vacancy.
The chances of landing something: Slim. What makes it even more frustrating is that you’re expected to have experience just to stand out… for a graduate role. How are you supposed to have that before you’ve even started your career? Realistically, one of the only ways to bridge that gap is through something like a placement year; however, I came to uni having vaguely heard of what a placement year was. I remember thinking that I’ll have the rest of my life to work, I don’t really need one right now. So I went on with my BSc Climate Science degree without giving it a second thought.
How the second year changed everything
Fast forward to the second year. Suddenly, everyone (including myself) was deep in the internship hunt, keen for career security after graduation. Around the same time (in the midst of many applications), I spotted a role that was exactly what I wanted to do: offshore wind, renewable energy sector. This was the career path I’ve been set on. The only thing was, it was a 12-month placement rather than a two-month summer internship. I figured I might as well apply, even though it was a placement role, just to get the experience of going through the interview process and learn what it actually takes to land a role like that when a more suitable opportunity came along. I didn’t have any formal placement briefing. I just treated it like applying for a summer internship, and the process was pretty much identical.
Then I got a call back… Then an interview… Then an offer.
Taking the leap
Suddenly, I had a real decision to make. I hadn’t planned for a placement year at all, but because this was the exact role I wanted, I decided to take on what honestly felt terrifying—moving to Glasgow and starting a whole new life, working a proper corporate job. And all of this was decided a month before I was supposed to go back for my final year. Thankfully for me, switching my degree to a placement-inclusive one at the last minute was completely seamless, thanks to the Earth Sciences department. I also had a lease agreement with my college for my final year, but because the placement was a recognised part of my degree, they let me terminate the contract without any issues.
What I actually gained
Because it all happened so suddenly, I didn’t really have time to form any expectations. But I’m sure that even if I had, the experience would have exceeded them anyway. I walked in not entirely sure if renewables was really the path for me or just something I was interested in. By the end of twelve months, I knew without a doubt it was for me. There’s a massive difference between thinking you want something and actually doing it day to day, and the placement gave me the chance to live it without full commitment.
I loved my job; my manager gave me the kind of support that made me feel like I wasn’t just a placement student filling a seat, I was trusted with real work, challenged in ways that mattered, and given the space to grow independently. The confidence I built was something I could never have got from a lecture or a practical. I went from being nervous about sending a professional email to holding my own in meetings while knowing the value I brought to a project. The competency, the fulfilment, the professional growth (and the amazing friends I’ve made throughout the year). All of it paid off the scary move by miles.
It’s never too late
This definitely isn’t the traditional placement year path, which is why I’m writing about it. If I’d been on the standard placement year timeline, I would have been expected to receive an offer by the Epiphany term of the second year. Instead, I got mine a month before the next academic year started. I learned that there are constantly opportunities out there being created. Not everything is on a linear timeline. Despite all the articles about how difficult it is to get a job, yada yada yada, ignore the fear-mongering. Keep going, and in time, you’ll find something that aligns perfectly for you.
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