FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Looking for Suitable
Placement Companies
Undergraduates should be
using the widest range of information sources to locate possible placement companies.
There are many possibilities including:
the
web;
the university Careers Service;
the library,
including trade directories;
university notice boards.
One of the most fruitful source of possible
companies has been found to be identifying relevant companies in the preferred
locality for the placement. Although these may not have taken placement
students before, they can provide excellent opportunities, and without a
history of placements, competition may be absent.
For undergraduates unable to find a placement, we are in the process of
developing a database information source, of possible companies. This is simply
an extra resource and should not be considered your only line of research.
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Database of Placement Companies
We are currently working on the database of companies who have been
involved in placements in the past. The data that we hold in Textiles is not
extensive, but what we have has now being assembled ready for loading into the
database framework. This may take a little time due to pressure of other work.
As soon as the database is
fully loaded, we shall inform all undergraduates who have registered their
interest (by CV and covering letter) the access arrangements.
No students should expect to
depend on this database for information, as it will be based on historical
information. The current economic situation may mean that many companies may
adjust their strategic plans and this, in turn, may affect their ability to
offer placements.
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Log books
This really is a log-book of your experiences,
stressing what you have learned and what you would want to remember for the
future.
You should ensure that you have read the log assessment criteria. Keep that in
mind when doing the log.
You may want to use it as a day to day record, or simply as a memory aid
for important points. However - it will be an important resource for your
report so I favour a fairly detailed structure.
I would generally recommend keeping it on computer - but you may need to
make notes on the hoof, transferring it onto the computer later.
Which method you choose, really depends on the job you are doing and the
place of work.
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Timing of Feedback from Draft Report
Feedback will
depend on your actual academic mentor - so I cannot offer you much
information, as it depends on holidays and travel commitments
Assume you should have feedback in September.
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Contents of Presentations
The presentation will contain details of your progress so far,
work carried out, successes achieved
what has been learned etc. The actual content will depend on the company and
your
position and current activities. You are presenting to ensure that the mentor
understands that the placement is progressing satisfactorily.
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Application Documents
The documents
needed for your application are a CV and a covering letter.
For the initial covering letter, the actual content will depend on the type of
company you will be applying to,
however it would be expected to cover certain areas such as:
This is not your final letter
that you are submitting, merely a generic example.
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Placements in
Students with
placements requiring them to travel into, or around,
Letters may be
obtained from the Head of Student Services at the university. Allow sufficient time to organize this BEFORE
you need it.
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Mid-Placement
Report
The length of
this report is not set as a word count. The normal length is between 10 and 20
pages.
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