Before Placement
Search for placements using Seek, LinkedIn, relevant industry communities and events and through your own creative networks.
Research a company before applying and make sure to tailor your cover letter, resume and portfolio to them.
Be professional and polite when calling or emailing a company to ask whether they are offering placements and who might be the best person to send through an application to.
Remember, you are on a placement to learn, it is different to freelance work for a company. A mentor or supervisor with industry experience should be available to provide guidance and feedback on your work.
When interviewing for a placement make sure both you and the host agree with your obligations and expectations while on the placement. Be honest with what your current skills are, what you are hoping to learn while on placement and your schedule and availability.
Reflect on your job search and preparation stages in your Learning Journal.
During Placement
Once your placement is confirmed, ensure you contact the Industry Liaison Coordinator (ILC) to sort out the relevant paperwork so you are covered for insurance and can begin logging your hours. Your placement must be logged on the Work Placement Register.
Be punctual, professional and polite while on your placement. Remember, you are representing SAE and it's values.
If you have signed a non-disclosure agreement or are working on a confidential project, do not post about it on social media or speak about the project according to the Host's guidelines.
If you don't know how to do something, ask for guidance. If you make a mistake, learn from it and ask how you can do it better next time.
Take the utmost care following instructions, expectations and procedures outlined to you by your Host or mentor.
Log your hours in the template provided, keep this up to date & share with your facilitators.
Reflect on the experience in your Learning Journal.
After Placement
Confirm with the ILC that you have completed your hours so they can send off your Host Mentor Assessment Form.
Finalise your Learning Journal targeted reflections and inform your ILC when this is complete.Â
Make sure you get the contact details of new industry contacts you have made so you can keep in touch.
Ask for permission to use any work you created during your placement for your portfolio.
See whether your mentor or supervisor would be comfortable being contactable as a reference on your resume.
Update your resume with your placement work experience.