Tips to exceed in your placement

Five top tips to exceed in your work placement

Access Accountancy works with more than 25 professional organisations to provide work placements in accounting, to help students from all backgrounds learn new skills including teamwork, networking, problem-solving and presenting.

In addition to gaining an insight into accountancy, there are many other benefits of completing a work placement, such as building a professional network, developing interpersonal skills, and working with people from different backgrounds.

If you’re considering completing a work placement with Access Accountancy, Farrah Beveridge, National Early Careers Manager at RSM UK, shared her five top tips to ensure you succeed and get the most out of your experience:

1. Be prepared

Before your work placement starts, research the company and find out about the team you’ll be working in. You can find information on the company’s website, social media and in news articles. If you’re in touch with a member of the team in advance, ask them for examples of tasks and if there’s anything they think would be helpful for you to do beforehand. Doing your own research will give you a good level of company knowledge and shows you are willing.  

2. Connect with colleagues

It’s important to get to know the people you’re working with to foster collaborative, inclusive and productive relationships. You may learn that someone specialises in an area you’re passionate about, or they may know another colleague with relevant expertise. When you’re meeting someone for the first time, remember to talk about yourself and share your career goals. If they know about your ambitions, they’ll be able to involve you in tasks specific to your interests. Equally, you may have skills or knowledge which helps them in their work too!

3. Be proactive

Whatever the task, complete it to the best of your ability. If you’re not sure about something, don’t be afraid to ask questions; this shows your desire to learn and will develop your communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills. If you manage to complete a task faster than the time allocated, ask a colleague if there’s anything you can help them with. You can also ask to shadow in meetings or other areas of the business.  Throughout your placement, ask for feedback from colleagues to help you improve.

4. Get involved

Working in a business, there’s always plenty to get involved in. During your placement, say yes to tasks which enable you to connect with new colleagues and clients – whether it’s collaborating on a project or listening in on meetings. There will also be opportunities to participate in office-wide events outside of your day-to-day role. It’s worth checking with your line manager first, but, provided they’re comfortable, it’s a great way to get to know new people and learn more about the business in a less formal setting. You may also discover you have different career interests than you originally thought.

5. Stay in touch

When your work placement comes to an end, it doesn’t mean your interaction with the company and your network needs to stop. At the end of the week, email your team and any other colleagues you worked with to thank them for their help. You can also connect with them on LinkedIn and ask for references. If you enjoyed the placement, let the company know and express your interest in future opportunities to continue learning and developing. Keeping in touch is the best way to hear about job prospects, even if there isn’t anything immediately available.

If you are keen to take part in a placement, and put these tips to the test, have a look at the current opportunities available today.