Written by: Anisa Khatun, 2nd year LLB student

What is a Micro-placement?

City, University of London provides students with the opportunity to enhance their employability skills by undertaking a short summer placement with a London-based employer. The Micro-placement scheme is offered to students who wish to explore a career different to their degree. This enables students to gain a wide variety of new skills that will be beneficial for them when applying for future jobs. Students undertake the Micro-placement during June and July which may last from 3 to 5 weeks.

How did you apply?

I applied for the Micro-placement scheme by first completing an expression of interest form. Once I submitted my form, I was required to attend a mandatory workshop. This workshop provided students with more detail about the scheme as well providing advice on CV’s, applications and Email etiquette. After attending the workshop, I was emailed the link to the application form.

What was the application process?

The team will review your application along with the expression of interest form and inform you about the outcome of the application within 10 working days. If you are successful, then you are required to book onto an Assessment Centre and after this the team will allocate you with an interview. Successful applicants will then be informed that they need to attend a webinar which provides students with information about what happens next. The team will then release new projects weekly onto Moodle where students are required to express their interest in projects by completing a mini cover statement. The Micro-placement team will then send a shortlist of candidates to employers where the employers will select their chosen candidates. Employers will email students to arrange interviews and once they have taken place the team will receive the outcome from the employers. Finally, the Micro-placement team will send the offer to successful students allowing it to be a match.

Benefits of undertaking the Micro-placement Scheme

One of the benefits of undertaking the Micro-placement scheme is that it prepares you for your future career. Employers want to see your experience along with your degree and this scheme enables you to develop new skills and strengths. Also, this scheme puts you a step ahead as you gain experience in assessment centres and interviews. This allows you to feel more confident when applying for your dream job after graduating.

What plans have been made to accommodate it given the circumstances?

Due to Covid-19, the scheme has been stopped so students are no longer being matched with employers instead students were offered alternative arrangements. As a Law student, I am eligible to undertake the Micro-placement scheme next year as an elective. This means I will be fast-tracked onto the programme. If I did not want to pick the Micro-placement scheme as an elective, then I was offered the chance to partake in the Employability Package. This consists of a number of employer-led skills sessions that will be delivered virtually and exclusively for Micro-placement students.

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