The hunt is on - One Year Work Placement

MercilessKiller

Ok I know i started the computer jobs post, but thats meant to be part time while at uni.

This thread (not just for me too..) is related to the one year work placements many students can go on!

In my first year I've been getting results in the top 10% of all students in the first year. Due to this I was told that I will get priority when it comes to a work placement, so it was in my best interest to search now and I'll have no problems getting what I want.

THe uni supports overseas work and assist when trying to find a job in Europe.. however, I want to go to America to study for the year.

Now I was told that *all* i have to do is find a company that is willing to take me, and a uni nearby that can "check-up" on me as such..

They recommeneded asking the big companies as they'd be more keen to take a student who's been doing well.

Apparently Microsoft (though not wanting to be a microsoft slave an all) have an amazing placement package, paying for accomedation, flights, and still the one year payment...

So my question is this..

Does anyone know where I can look to find big companies that will be looking to take one year placemenet studnets in the US? The reason I ask on here is that i have NO idea who to email, who to ask, what to say.... So maybe someone with experience or knows someone who has can help

Thanks very much.

p.s I shall also have a full CCNA by then too which should hopfeully help

p.p.s This is for the academic year of 07 to 08. (where i will be a 3rd year student out of a 4 year course)

payt20

Wow you are thinking ahead for your placement year. Wish i did as well though, i got alright marks and managed to sort one locally and its great. You learn so much and i definately recommend that you do a placement year. Mine ends in September.

What is your exact course? ALOT of people are going to apply to Microsoft and your going to have to be the best of the best to get that. My mate applied at Sony ( Liverpool) and hes the best programmer i know, top marks in his class and even he didnt get the Sony job.

If i was you i would just write a GOOD covering letter explaining your situation and just email it off. Google for companies that you know, amazon, ebay, google etc

ftbworried

Yeah Microsoft, IBM and the like are almost impossible to get in- especially for UK grads. These companies have a selection of well educated, committed home students who they don't need to sort out visa's etc for - so you are automatically disadvantaged before you start.

Don't discount smaller less 'mainstream' companies, I did a years placement as a programmer in a pharmaceutical company (not an obvious choice- and therefore less competition!). I was the only student they took on for a placement in the UK and as a result I was allowed more responsibility and more benefits than a big tech company who take on loads of students. I was also less anonymous there and whilst the package benefits weren't obvious when I applied, they surpassed anything that my classmates were on. Just goes to show- places like Microsoft glitter but look in the nooks and crannies and you might find yourself a little goldmine. Because my host company were more personal, they invested a lot in my training- they put me through all my certifications. I was treated like any other member of staff and it was forgotten that I was a student, I was working away, stopping in fancy London hotels at their expense, driving a brand new Golf GTI that they gave to me...All I'm saying is don't discount something that is not immediately obvious such as IBM/Microsoft.

MercilessKiller

payt20 wrote:

Wow you are thinking ahead for your placement year. Wish i did as well though, i got alright marks and managed to sort one locally and its great. You learn so much and i definately recommend that you do a placement year. Mine ends in September.

What is your exact course? ALOT of people are going to apply to Microsoft and your going to have to be the best of the best to get that. My mate applied at Sony ( Liverpool) and hes the best programmer i know, top marks in his class and even he didnt get the Sony job.

If i was you i would just write a GOOD covering letter explaining your situation and just email it off. Google for companies that you know, amazon, ebay, google etc

I'm doing a Network Computing BSc 4 Year course included a full CCNA, CCNP 1 and 2, an MCSE, and many other modules including:
Object oriented event driven programming
Java programming
C Development
Hardware software systemans and networks
Lan switching and Wan networks,
Systems analysis and design...


etcetc.. thats all just from year 1

so ye advice is good

melancholly

i was always told that microsoft only employ people who have postgradute qualifications - not because they need them, but just because they can have the pick of the bunch! is their anything at your careers service about previous companies people have gone to? you can't be the first person who's tried to do this, and if a company has had a good experience with someone from your uni before, they may be more likely to take you. maybe look for companies that have 'on campus' recuitment events at US universities - all details are usually on their websites.

pavlovs_dog

reach for the stars? why not try NASA? (you've got nothing to loose - the worst they can say is no!

only advice i can offer is start your CV now, and keep it up to date, so that when application time comes it is one less thing to worry about. utilise the support facilities of the uni career office to help you write a good one if necessary.

you may also wish to do an online version, demonstrating some of your skill areas (eg basic programing, html, java and so on - you could always use uni projects for this, no need to reinvent the wheel). if they are hiring a computer dude, they're more likely than not going to want to see what you can do

MercilessKiller

I already have an up to date CV though it doesnt specificially list my modules at uni, and my module grades as they're obviously seperate from a total mark. I am to understand however that work places are more interested in the detailed areas.. so maybe a seperate cv? If i include all my uni modules etc its going to be at least 3 pages long, and I'd rather keep it at 2 which is where it is now :S

Maybe as someone suggested a good cover letter would do briefly outlining my skills, and include a cv as a seperate attachment?

As for my skills, getting the CCNA qualification means passing a skills test. As for much else, I doubt they'll want to test programs sent to them by strangers on a work machine so I wont risk that! :P

Thanks for all the advice so far. Much appreciated

pavlovs_dog

i wasnt suggesting that you send them anything - if you created an online CV website type thing, you could have a section listing the different areas you're qualified in, and then, if you have created a program in thay particular programming language, you could host that on the site or as a download, as evidence of what you are capable of

MercilessKiller

A lot of american websites have information about possible "internships"? But they seem only possible to be applied for by American studnets without much contact info for other enquiries

melancholly

MercilessKiller wrote:

A lot of american websites have information about possible "internships"? But they seem only possible to be applied for by American studnets without much contact info for other enquiries

well the worst thing they can do is ignore you! and at least they can tell you whether there's an alternative avenue to explore.

MercilessKiller

Wehey turns out this family in america will help me get a visa as i'm related to them! ace

As for jobs.. getting no reply from companies.. so thinking i need to make it more personal and ring people?... I also need to look in San Francisco, so if anyoneknows anyone there...