Work experience

ECS related work experience

Integrated Module Projects - group and individual
Think about what opportunities your project might lead to, could it involve working directly with a company, and good quality work could lead to an summer job offer?  The research needed for the project could mean interviewing a number of companies, and a good impression and working relationship could help you negotiate a position. 

What do ECS Students say?

ECS students and graduates share their stories and advice.

Placements - Summer and 12 months

  • ECS contacts
    A number of companies approach ECS industrial liaison tutors and Joyce Lewis with opportunities.  These will be advertised to students through the ECS Careers Hub and by email. 
  • Jobs Portal
    Anything received by Career Destinations will be added published here, and where a specific request for ECS students is made, passed on to ECS.
  • Excel Placement Programme
    Career Destinations run the Excel Southampton Placement Programmes during the Easter and Summer vacations, there are always opportunities for ECS students.
  • Company websites
    Many companies offer formal summer internships or placement years and these will be advertised on their websites, in graduate recruitment literature and at Careers Fairs.
  • step placements  
    Nationawide project based placements including in IT and engineering for students and graduates.
  • Year in Industry
    YINI specialise in organising 12 month placements either before or during your studies.  YINI are based on campus and usually attend our careers fairs.   
  • 12 month placements
    You will need to get formal permission to interrupt your studies, so talk to your tutor if you are interested in this option.   
  • First Years
    Some companies are starting to offer short taster events, visit days, etc, otherwise it may be more realistic to focus on building your transferable skills.

Speculative work experience
Before approaching any potential employers or recruitment agencies, you are strongly encouraged to consider the following:

  • What do you want to do? What type of role would you like to experience?
    If you are not sure yet of the roles available, you could use the Prospects job descriptions to gain more understanding.
  • Where do you want to do it? Which employers really interest you?
    Employers are impressed by applicants who have thoroughly researched their organisation. What is their reputation based on? What are their key products and or services? What impressed or interested you when you looked on their website? You are not advised to repeat chunks of text from their website, but you will create more interest if you can demonstrate a genuine interest in an organisation.
  • What are your objectives? What skills and knowledge do you want to develop?
    Spend some time consider what you want to achieve from your placement.  An employer is more likely to respond positively if they feel they can genuinely help you achieve those objectives. 
  • Skillset?  What skills can you market? 
    First years often struggle to secure formal work experience because employers feel they have yet to develop workplace skills, other students don't always realise how competive the work experience jobs market is.  Think seriously about your technical and transferable skills to work out what you can genuinely offer the employer. 

Locating opportunities

  • Use a mixture of strategies e.g.
    + Consider smaller companies as well as larger employers
    + Apply for advertised positions as well as making speculative applications
    + Consider freelance work
    + Talk to tutors about helping on research projects in ECS
    + Meet and network with employers as much as possible

Other work experience

Any work experience will help you develop skills to become effective in work.