Information for Students and Advice on Applying for Frontrunner Placements

Transcription

1 Information for Students and Advice on Applying for Frontrunner Placements 1

2 Information for Students What is Frontrunners? Frontrunners is a campus-based placement scheme. By taking part in a Frontrunners placement, you will be able to gain and develop transferable employability skills that will help you when competing for jobs. The scheme is open to all De Montfort University students, offers on-the-job training, and is paid. Placements are between one and three terms in length and up to 12 hours per week during term time and 20 hours per week over the summer and holiday periods. Frontrunners also supports students in developing their ability to reflect on and articulate the skills they have acquired. What is a Frontrunners placement... and how does it differ from a "job"? Frontrunners placements offer students the opportunity to develop their employability by taking part in exciting and meaningful work experience that also benefits the University by enriching campus life. The expectation is that placements offer a secure and supportive work environment with on-the-job training and a high level of supervision and mentoring. What kind of placements does Frontrunners offer? Placements vary from administration-based roles to project work, and everything in between. Please see our Previous Frontrunner Placements webpage for some examples of placements that have been provided previously. Do I get paid? Yes. Frontrunners placements are paid, and you can work up to a maximum of 12 hours a week during term time and 20 hours a week during vacation time. Payments are on a monthly basis, and are paid directly into your bank account. Are all placements based on campus? Nearly all placements are based on campus, in numerous Faculties and Professional Services sections of the University. Some are based with local businesses and partners of the university, but these are all close by to campus within walking distance. Can I work in more than one placement at the same time? No. You can apply for several placements at the same time, but only accept one offer. Once you have finished a placement, you can then apply for another one, but you cannot finish a placement early to start another one. You cannot go on the same Frontrunner placement more than once. Students already on a Frontrunner placement will not be considered for a Frontrunner placement if it starts before their current Frontrunner placement ends. We want students to maximise the benefit from their Frontrunner placements, this cannot happen if students end current placements early to start a new one. This also has a negative impact on the member of staff supervising the placement itself and on the benefits gained by the university from the placement. Can I choose the days and hours when I want to work? Within reason, yes! There may be some core hours when you will be required to work, but Frontrunners aims to be flexible so you can fit work in around your studies. Frontrunners can work up to a maximum of 12 hours a week and 20 hours a week during vacation time. 2

3 Will I be doing real work? Yes. All Frontrunners placements offer the opportunity to develop the higher-level skills you will need to compete in the job market. Therefore, you will be involved in working on real tasks, projects and work. You will not be a glorified tea maker! Do I have to work during the holidays as well? Many placements only require work during term time, although others may require work during the holidays. This can be discussed and agreed with your supervisor. How much experience do I need in order to be eligible for a placement? Requirements vary from one placement to another. The majority of placements require some knowledge of IT, communication skills and the ability to learn. Frontrunners is a placement scheme, and aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain experience; you do not need lots of previous work experience to apply. Many of the skills required can be transferred from your experiences of studying. Is the scheme only open to undergraduates? No, it is open to all registered De Montfort University students. Do I need a national insurance number in order to work in a placement? Yes, you will need a national insurance number in order to be paid and work in a placement. Details about obtaining a national insurance number can be found on the Student Services web pages. How do I apply? For each placement you will need to complete an online application detailing how you meet the requirements. Placements will start at three points in the academic year January, July and October. If you would like to apply for any of the Frontrunners vacancies, you will need to log into our online system with your student number to see all the available positions. Frontrunners sign in page Step 1 When you sign in for the first time, choose the box which says Frontrunners registration. You will then need to add your student ID and choose a password. Remember this, as you will need it in future to sign in. You will need to use whole number, e.g. P Then choose a password with 8 characters that includes a letter, number and symbol. Step 2 If you are interested in a vacancy, select it from the list to view the details. There is then the facility to click on Apply to start your application. You can start an application and then go back to it at a later date. Just remember to save it and keep a note of your password. Once you have completed your application, you must click Submit to ensure your application is received for shortlisting. 3

4 Revisiting the Frontrunners site/ applications After you have registered the first time, you will need to select Existing user/frontrunner from the sign in page, and enter your chosen password. Remember to use a capital P when entering your P number. You will then go straight through to the vacancy list and any applications you have in progress. You will only be able to get in this way once you have registered. If you experience any technical problems with the online system, please contact vacancy@dmu.ac.uk 4

5 Advice on applying for Placement Opportunities Before applying for a Frontrunners placement please read these guidance notes. If you require further information please contact: frontrunners@dmu.ac.uk 1. Applications should be submitted via the Online Application Form, with full information provided by the deadline stated. 2. All personal data supplied to us on this form, which is subsequently processed on computer or by other means, is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act It is strongly advised that you print off and refer to the Project Details. You will need to relate your answers to the information stated in the Project Details. The short listing for interview will be based on this information. 4. Make sure you address the following points: How you intend to benefit from the placement, including any skills you would like to develop How the placement will help you to achieve your career goals How you meet the requirements of the placement Any other information you see as relevant 5. Remember if you are applying for more than one placement, you will need to fill in separate applications for each one, making sure the information you provide is relevant to that placement. 6. You must have the right to work in the UK to be part of frontrunners. If you are successful you will be asked to produce your passport and any visas to prove this. 7. Feedback on unsuccessful applications will be available on request. 8. At the end of each placement evaluations will be requested from the supervisor and frontrunner. Evaluations may be taken into account if future placements are requested. 9. Agreement to a placement does not guarantee the possibility of the continuation with a further placement on a future occasion. 10. Due to a tight timescale and in the interest of fairness, late applications will not be considered. 5