External Placement

The job I got was Web Application Programmer at RCU Ltd, a consultancy and research firm for the further education sector based in Preston. I alternate between working full Thursdays and Fridays one week and full Thursdays and half Wednesdays and Fridays on the other, which suits my timetable. The application process was simple; I got an email about the job opening, sent my CV and a covering letter through the ERS website and waited. Jen (from ERS) had a talk to make sure I was right for it and sent off my CV, and after an interview at the company I was told I had the job. Painless.

As far as balancing it with my studies goes, I don’t know how well it would’ve been possible before Moodle, but as my lecturers put all their lecture notes (and most of them put videos of the lectures) up on it, and my lab sessions have all the work up on there, it works out very nicely.  I can go over the material at times that suit me. I think the job will help me career-wise, as it’ll give me more programming work to add to my portfolio, potential contacts for future opportunities and show that I can balance work and university commitments and (hopefully) do well in both.