Nick Clegg yesterday launched a new social mobility policy with an attack on the way internships go to “sharp elbowed” wealthy families….

Clegg however, secured an internship at a Finnish Bank unpaid before he attended Cambridge University. A spokesperson said it was through “family connections”, Mr Clegg’s father Nicholas.

I can’t help thinking this is a little hypocritical ? What are the general views on Clegg’s new policy? Will it actually change the current situation of only the wealthy and privileged students being able to benefit from unpaid internships? Surely employers must take note of this and give every student the opportunity to gain employability skills…we have several paid placements and internships on RateMyPlacement so let this be the start of a new transition in the market!

For more information on the story check out the article at www.thisislondon.co.uk

What does everyone think?   Comments please

It’s an exciting and sad time as many of you are approaching the end of your placements.  Our Guest Blogger at Trigger, Aaron updates us with his experiences so far.  Read onto find out what he has been up to in the past few months……

“Believe it or not, in the last few months I have been doing a lot of development work in several different areas of the business.

The main project that I have been working on for a while now is developing our own ‘wallboard’, well plural, we are going to have quite a few. We started out by using a website called Geckoboard. Geckoboard is a website which allows you to have dashboards which display information from various different systems etc in the form of widgets. Geckoboard comes with a lot of standard widgets which can be useful but some widgets are just not specific enough for our needs. I went straight in and started developing from scratch, a script which can be plugged into the Geckoboard to display pie charts, numbers, text etc from the systems we use. At the moment the company utilises many pieces of software to store information on projects, opportunities, invoices, support tickets and much more, but the stats from these are not being shown anywhere. My script allows you to pass a given format in and relevant attributes to support this format (depending on what is required for each).

As well as finishing up on the Geckoboard and getting the stats up on some large screens around the office, I am going to be doing some Flex shadowing and working with a few people around the office to increase my skills base. I will be on Support Development all the way to the end of my placement but have the opportunity to move away quite freely when required, for when I want to do Flex, for example, or my continuation with PHP. Within Trigger we have an application range which is for engagement purposes, I have slowly been taking over the setup etc of these from one of the QA managers who has been doing these for years now, there is lots of detail within the processes but learning of all of this is extremely beneficial to myself when/if I come back.

If you have any questions regarding my Geckoboard script or anything else you want to mention, go ahead and add a comment!

Will have a final couple of updates coming up shortly, as I am into my last few months within Trigger (The lucky people at Trigger have chosen to keep me on for an extra month though so my time has been extended). There will probably be one mid May after I come back from Tenerife and one at the end of my placement

You can find out more from Aaron, as well as our other Guest Bloggers over the coming year!

Feel free to add your thoughts below! Would you like a placement at Trigger?

The budget announced yesterday by the Government states that “100,000 young people will be offered work experience to reduce Britain’s escalating problem of youth unemployment”.

This is a great step in the right direction, however the real question surrounds how many students will be paid for their placements. There needs to be a greater movement towards paid placements and internships to prevent students from working months on end just to gain that little bit of experience to add to their CV. We can see that some industries are tougher to break into including Marketing, Advertising and PR but the debate around exploiting students in these sectors needs to be addressed!

The real issue is students need experience before they graduate! At RateMyPlacement, we believe that all students should have the equal opportunity to gain these essential employment skills – unpaid placements realistically cut out a significant number of students who are able to afford this opportunity so companies, it’s time to take action….

Read more from the article and news from the budget at www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide

As always, add your comments below

We are all aware of the high levels of graduate unemployment and the rising costs of attending university.

It’s not all bad though!  An article in Personnel Today discusses how important undergraduate work experience is, both for students and employers. Maria Floud, senior graduate recruitment manager at accountancy firm Grant Thornton, states that the increase in university fees is making employers reflect on their schemes and realise how important it is to attract students from an earlier age.

“The internship model used as a key pipeline to the graduate programme is very successful. We recently won the ‘Best Placement and Internship’ award by Rate My Placement, due to the focus we put on ensuring this programme to find great talent earlier on.”

Congratulations to Grant Thornton and thanks for our mention – hopefully this will give employers and students the oomph and encouragement to undertake a placement or internship scheme  :)

If you’re a student there is still time to grab a placement or internship this summer so check out the opportunities on http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/search

We are also interested to hear your thoughts so drop us a line with your comments below.

Thanks,

The RateMyPlacement Team

It’s an exciting time as many of you people on placement break the half way stage. Our Guest Blogger at CSC, David Galbraith updates us with his experiences so far…

“6:30am: I’ve woken to get into the office for 8. Unfortunately this is one of the 90% of the time I will ‘regretfully’ change my alarm to 7:00 and take the later train. Sometimes I’ll be sleepy and mistakenly change the clock on my phone instead of the alarm; resulting in being as late as I am tired.

7:30am: I’m praying for a stray copy of CITY AM, but as always, disappointed to get the metro. I get into work around 8.30.

9:00am: Roll into the office, picking up breakfast on the way (great canteen at HQ). I’m updated on e-mails so crack into the redesigning of a spreadsheet workbook for a monthly metrics report to be presented on client site. Could be a big deal and lots of saved hours If I can implement a straight through process for the data entry.

11:00: Am a little fed up now with cell merging and alignment nuisances so I use this opportunity to chase up a work shadowing opportunity with the UK Sales Director. I’m just after completing my last shadowing within Human Resources, which involved sitting behind the scenes on an assessment centre and constructing a report suggesting ways to improve the Assessment and recruitment process.

12pm: Early lunch to miss the queues. Heading down to meet with the other interns and a couple of the graduates. Gamon again. My plate is (again) hidden under a mound of spuds. Conversation is of the utmost quality as it quickly mutates from (the days) work into topical banter regarding the Irish famine, Dawei Wang’s hair (See picture) and of course planning the next night out.

13pm: Lunch done. Ate too much so drowsy now. Preparing a plan for a job that we will be orchestrating across the water (which will now be made harder as a result of my overfeed). I’m running an audit alongside the work, which is a hefty job, so requires accurate planning. Problem being confusion concerning the task direction, which seems to change every week.

15pm: Catch up with a team member to discuss progress on another of my tasks, to complete a retrospective audit on some assets. This is a very ambiguous task of recording all asset details of all-of-some software items. I suggest we meet with a project manager who dealt with the items previously. Another day please…

16pm: I’m in control of my work so leave early. I prefer to keep things at extremes. Either I’m one of the first to leave or the last. I don’t appreciate wasted time in the office when the work is under control and I understand how effective a long night of work in the office can be in getting a critical piece of work perfected. I keep my messenger and email on my Curve 24/7 so I’m never out of communication.

17pm: Cue discussion of which bar to visit on the way home with the other interns. This is a very dangerous idea but ALWAYS a good one at the time.

Well there it is. I think it’s important to clear the mist from the ambiguous ‘business’ placement role title and offer an insight into what actually happens day to day.

Overall and otherwise, things are looking well. I have applications rolling for summer placements, and CSC is looking quite good  concerning a post-university graduate programme. I picked up a Recognition Award last month and have just been assigned to a new project. Seems cool. Will update again soon.

Good Luck in your applications!”

You can find out more from David, as well as our other Guest Bloggers over the coming year!

Feel free to add your thoughts below! Would you like a placement at CSC?

The legal profession is full of myths and rumours on what is actually involved in a law career.

All About Law is a website which aims to answer those questions!  Whether you are looking for a career in law or just want to find out more, visit All About Law.

The site contains advice and information on the law industry as well as blogs from in-house lawyers and students on law placements.  You can also search for the latest law placements and internships on RateMyPlacement so what are you waiting for!

Any comments to add?  Make sure you add one below or check out our forum and start chatting with fellow students

Thanks,

The RateMyPlacement Team

Throughout the year we will be following the progress of our Guest Bloggers so read on to find out how Aaron has been getting on at Trigger!

“Wow. So it’s been a hell of a few weeks (about 7 since I last posted on here) over at Trigger! I apologise for my lack of updates.  Everyone has been so busy holding large projects together and managing the new ‘better way of working’ for Trigger.  Chris (MD), Luke (OM) and some other employees have decided that the company needs a revamp into the way it works. As well as simply working for the organisation over the past 6 months, I have been involved in trying to improve its processes, the way in which support functions differently and a lot more, towards this change. Everyone at Trigger is definitely sick of the ‘interrupted’ approach to work that is currently present in the studio, everyone has a lot more potential than what is currently being used.

The first main step to a ‘better way of working’ is a structured and responsive support team. A primary first action was to then setup a dedicated support centre with not just one person on support, but a team, this is what is now coming into play. This is one reason why I have not had much time recently to get a post in, because I have been covering Conor who has been on paternity leave, he is back now though, many congratulations to him! As well as covering Conor on support for our clients, I was also requested at the same time to ‘show the ropes’ to someone on a Support Trial, this made for a tough couple of weeks. Things are now settling back down to a level where I can enjoy myself again, as I slowly move back into a developers role for my last 6 months within the company. My development role was pushed back once again when I had to cover support, but before that I spent 3/4 weeks on helping with the development and language management for 4 EURO sites for a large client of ours (FR/DE/BE-FR and BE-NL), these are now live for the people within these countries.

To help me with moving into my development role, David Liewe popped into the studio a couple of weeks ago to see what I have been doing and to analyse my placement. I think the hour went well, he spoke to Kim, one of my placement advisers, she told David exactly what I have been doing and how I have been an asset to the company the time I have been here (something that is very reassuring to hear about).

Now that I am eventually moving into more development work (less support – yes!) I can get stuck into some AS3/Flex, get to grips with some more PHP work and generally move forward, good times! This Monday I have been requested by Chris (MD) to be a support developer for a short while to enable me to get my feet on the ground, after I can move to the development bench. Something to look forward to. I will let you all know how I do soon, hopefully my next update will be in a few weeks and not a few months.

Enough of work, outside of placement has also been a blast. I have been busy seeing Uni friends, popping home and have booked my holiday to Tenerife in May. Next on the agenda is Wales next week, some Christmas shopping, Christmas at home for a few days and then hopefully a big new years!”

You can also find out more from Aaron, as well as our other Guest Bloggers over the coming year!

Feel free to add your thoughts below! Would you like a placement at Trigger?

Danny tells us what it’s like spending his 12 month placement at Experian, hear his experiences and see what skills he’s gained during his time.

• Name: Danny Roden
• University: Aston
• Course: BA (Hons) Business and Management
• Placement / Internship Position/Job Title: Year Placement: Project Analyst

What was the application process like?

“The application process was very efficient. I saw the job on the Business School’s intranet, and applied using an online form. Within a week or so I got a phone call back inviting me to do a telephone interview, and immediately after that was a face-to-face interview (4 days after). All in all the process was very quick, and communication was very good, unlike a lot of other placement jobs I’d also applied to.”

What do you do on a daily basis?

“The work I’m doing here is exactly the same as what a graduate would be doing, in this role. Day to day activities include: responding to email queries, chasing suppliers/internal departments to keep our updates cycle on time, as well as doing project work, attending and contributing in various meeting. This has taught me the importance of prioritisation and meeting deadlines as well as given me the skills necessary to do this.

At QAS there’s always opportunities to engage in new projects/activities; at present I’m working on a project which involves creating a schedule of workloads between different departments involved with the updates cycle, and another project that’s looking at giving the graduate section of the careers website a complete overhaul.

Recently we’ve had a National Company Meeting (NCM), where everyone who works for Experian QAS meets up (this time at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium) to learn about what’s going on in different areas of the business and meet lots of new people. This day I found thoroughly enjoyable and mentally engaging as it gave me a real opportunity to see, from a top level, how the company is progressing and evolving, as well as a fair insight into some substantial projects that are going on.”

What did you learn on your placement / Internship?

“I’m only 3 months into my placement year here, and already I feel like I’ve progressed loads. I’ve developed project management skills (prioritisation, time handling, communication etc), general business skills (handling a very busy inbox, dealing with queries, explaining complex things in an understandable manner), and also some technical skills (using new pieces of software, looking into raw data etc). As well as all this I’ve learnt a lot about how a business-to-business (B2B) organisation works as well as a great insight into a market I’ve had very little prior knowledge on.

Overall I feel like each day brings with it a new challenge/problem, which I’m tackling and learning/developing useful and transferable skills from.”

Any top tips for a student interested in a placement / internship here?

“Take hold of any opportunities available, and get involved with loads of projects. Meet loads of people and socialise. I’ve made loads of great contacts through playing squash/badminton, and attending social events, with colleagues who I’d otherwise not have met.”

What are your thoughts? Would you like to work for Experian? Has this helped you with the application process? Comment below!

The deadline for ALL entries and nominations for the National Placement & Internship Awards 2011 is this Friday 19th November!

Have you exceeded expectations and genuinely made a significant impact to your team, department or business as a whole on your placement or internship? Do you fancy winning £250, enhancing your CV and increasing your employability in the future?

If so we want to hear from you!

Friday 19^th November is the deadline for all entries and nominations for the National Placement & Internship Awards 2011 sponsored by Pwc! This is a fantastic opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for your excellent contribution whilst on placement and/or internship!   To enter, download a nomination form from:

www.ratemyplacementawards.co.uk

Student Awards include:

• Best Placement Student (£250 prize) Sponsored by Accenture
• Best Intern (£250 prize) Sponsored by Lloyds TSB
• Best Student Contribution to Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (£250 prize)
• Best University Society(£1000 prize) Sponsored by UBS

With the deadline for all entries and nominations only a few days away, don’t miss out on your chance to win an Award at the National Placement & Internship Awards 2011!  Visit the website below for more details:

There are also three Awards to recognise the outstanding contribution, support and advice which Universities provide to students in their search for work experience.  These include:

• Best University Placement or Careers Service Sponsored by M&S
• The University with a Forward Thinking Attitude to Work-Based Learning
• University Personality of the year

You can nominate for one or all of the Awards available so don’t miss out on your chance to win!

Good luck

If you have any questions about the National Placement & Internship Awards, please feel free to contact:

Lizzie Brock on 0207 824 5249 / lizzie@ratemyplacement.co.uk

BP operates at the frontiers of geography and technology. We want you to experience what we do first hand.

The Ultimate Field Trip 2011 is a team competition. The winners will spend six to eight weeks on a paid internship with our operations in the North Sea. During the internship, you’ll visit an offshore platform, take a trip to the Forties pipeline, go to Edinburgh to see the world-famous Fringe Festival and visit Wytch Farm – the largest known onshore oil field in western Europe.

How to enter

Innovation and efficiency are essential for long-term sustainability. The 2011 competition focuses on our UK North Sea operations. The coming decades will see significant asset restructuring as some 500 platforms and around 13,000 km of pipelines from the North Sea oil and gas industry approach the end of their economic lives. Currently, 450,000 people work in the North Sea energy sector including some of the finest scientists and engineers in the world.

This competition gives you the chance to study the issues facing our North Sea operations and come up with new ideas that will extend the useful life of the oil and gas infrastructure – and potentially the oil and gas fields themselves.

We want you to use your imagination. We’ll be looking for innovative thinking.

To take part, you’ll need to get a team of three people together and register on our website via the button below. We’ll send you an email to confirm what to do next and how to submit your entry.

If you get through the first round, you’ll take part in a regional semi-final. From there, we’ll choose the best teams to go through to the grand final in London – where industry leaders will judge the entries.

Important dates

• Register online: Now
• Initial submissions by: 17 December 2010
• Short-list: 17 January 2011
• Semi finals: February 2011*
• Grand final: April 2011*

For full terms and conditions please refer to our website: bp.com/fieldtrip *Exact dates to be confirmed

Are you up for the challenge? Click the button below to find out more and apply!

View the company profile and find out more!