Careerwise is a ground breaking work placement promotion scheme targeted at women studying STEM subjects at Scottish Universities and Colleges.
Paid work placements last between 8 – 12 weeks and 6 months and generally take place between June and August each year. These placements are not job opportunities or access to future permanent jobs. We specifically promote these opportunities to women as they are significantly under-represented and disadvantaged in STEM fields and roles across Scotland, the opportunity to explore the particular type of role they are considering, enables women to make an informed decision as to whether to continue a career in STEM. The work placements we advertise aim to enable and encourage students to enter and progress in a STEM based career.
Careerwise advertises high quality paid work placements that enable students to develop both the technical and soft skills desired by recruiting employers such as self-management, organisational and communication skills.
This programme provides a platform to specifically support women to apply for placements however these opportunities can be applied for, or discussed further, directly with the employer (or on other placement advertising websites) by any student who is interested.
Careerwise works with industry and academia to encourage them to take positive action to increase the participation of women in STEM by promoting paid work placements to:
Improve access to STEM industry for women via work placements.
Increase women’s awareness of STEM occupations as viable career options.
Increase women’s employability skills in preparation for future entry for actual STEM employment.
Support STEM employers to take positive action to increase opportunities for women considering STEM careers
Universities take positive action to increase opportunities for girls and young women considering STEM further education
In today’s competitive job market, having a degree isn’t enough and gaining work experience and training related to your degree is so important for your future career success. A summer placement is the chance to apply the significant knowledge and skills you have gained during your studies in the real working environment. Employers are looking for applicants to have that added extra and work experience is a great way to get the added extra, ultimately making you stand out! It’s never too early to apply for a placement and the Careerwise summer placements are open to 1st-4th year students.
Access to high quality work placements can significantly impact on the career intentions of women undergraduates studying STEM subjects. Placements encourage women to enter STEM careers, develop their skills and build their self-confidence. Placements also provide an opportunity for women to establish new professional and support networks and gain experience of different organisational cultures and working methods.
One of the key aims of the CareerWISE project is to improve employability through the provision of high quality placements that develop both the technical and soft skills desired by recruiting employers. The top 3 skills gained by Careerwise placementees are technical, effective communication/self-presentation and self-management/organisational skills. These are the top 3 skills reported by employers as lacking among job applicants
Outcomes
Through Careerwise, students have greater access to STEM industry opportunities, increased awareness of STEM occupations and increased employability skills in preparation for entry to STEM employment.
Careers Support
Careerwise is not just a placement scheme. Students who successfully obtain a Careerwise placement will also receive excellent careers advice to help safe guard your transition from education to a successful STEM career. This includes mandatory attendance at our pre and post placement workshops.
The pre placement workshop provides students with various tools and techniques to make the most of their placement and how to maximise training and learning opportunities whilst on placement. The post placement workshop explores the student’s future job search in line with their passions, values and strengths and enables student to capture and translate any new learning to your CV and at future job interviews.
Research shows that high quality placements combined with good careers advice and support, increase the likelihood of women applying successfully for STEM roles.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a work placement via the Careerwise portal you must be:
Female/identify as a woman
Matriculated at a Scottish University or College
Studying a science, technology, engineering or maths related subject
Eligible to work in the UK – Tier 4 Visa
How to apply:
Complete our short online application
Attach your cover letter
Attach your CV – it’s that simple!
Students who wish to be notified when the 2020 placements are open for applications should join the Equate Student Network. Students registered with our student network will be notified first when the Careerwise placements open for applications.
Applications Timeline
Round 1 of applications for summer 2020 placement opportunities will open around 11th October 2019 and will close on 14th January 2020.
Round 2 of applications opens on 10th February 2020 and will close on 30th March 2020.
Employers will aim to make all placement offers to the successful students by end of April 2020.
Students who make one or two tailored applications are more successful at obtaining a placement, compared to those students who make numerous generic applications.
Download our student resource containing useful information on what you should include in your cover letter and CV.
Employers report that talent with STEM skills is becoming harder to recruit. With the current STEM skills shortage, an ageing workforce and the generational gap, placements are essential for building the talent pipeline.
23% of employers that have had internships within the previous 12 months report that they have recruited someone following an internship compared with 8% that have recruited someone after a graduate programme. (UKES Report on Youth Unemployment)
The benefits for your organisation are:
Access to a work placement scheme aimed exclusively at undergraduate female STEM students
Build a talent pipeline and plug the skills shortage by widening your talent pool
Enhanced company profile among Scotland’s female STEM talent and their associated universities.
Be recognised as a progressive employer and become an employer of choice for women in STEM
Organisations with a diverse workforce are ultimately more successful and more profitable.
Impact
192 female STEM students have completed Careerwise placements in the first 6 years
100% of employers stated that students’ had contributed in a meaningful way to their organisation
100% of employers stated that they would engage with Careerwise by offering one or more placements in future years
11 graduate job offers made to placement students on completion of the placement (upon success through an open recruitment process.)
2 employers have invited back 6 students for a 2nd summer placement
2 HEIs have produced 4 research papers off the back of the placement.
How to participate
Engagement with Careerwise is light touch for employers. It’s a simple 3 step process:
Step 1
Employers identify a training/work placement opportunity, which genuinely provides the opportunity to develop and acquire the professional skills and experience relevant to the students chosen career.
In the first instance, employers should contact Careerwise to discuss their placement opportunity on 0131 455 2267.
Step 2
The next step is to then provide a placement specification and description and person specification (if relevant) using the Equate Scotland templates for posting to the Equate Scotland website (as well as your own for open applications) – it’s that easy!
Step 3
After the closing date, Careerwise will provide an applicant list complete with all CVs and cover letters. From there on, employers carry out their own recruitment and selection process, whatever that may include. We do not match you with a student – it is entirely the employer’s own choice which student they award their placement to.
Should one of the women that applied through the Careeriwse portal be successful in obtaining a work placement with your organisation, we ask that you complete our Confirmation of Appointment Form confirming who you have offered the placement to.
Employer Fees
There is no fee other than the placement student salary that the employer pays.
Careerwise placements are paid placements meaning that the student salary is funded by the company. Employers who engage with Careerwise must commit to paying the national real living wage.
Funding Towards Student Salaries for SMES
Funding of up to £1500 max per 3-month placement is available for SMEs but these funds are limited and are dependent on which University your chosen student comes from. Contact Careerwise to enquire if your company is eligible for this funding.
Read our FAQs to answer any other questions you may have about the scheme.
To discuss your placement opportunity please contact us on 0131 455 2267.
Careerwise is always looking for valuable STEM work experience opportunities for talented and able female STEM students. We are oversubscribed in applications and always actively looking for new partners to offer paid work experience opportunities – will that be you?
Contact Careerwise:
Sep 2019
Placement details, including placement specifications, descriptions and person specifications complete and provided to Careerwise by 04/10/19
Oct 2019
1st round of placement opportunities placed on application system by 11/10/19.
Nov 2019
Careerwise promote placement opportunities via various channels.
Dec 2019
Careerwise promote placement opportunities via various channels.
Jan 2020
Closing date for 1st round of placement applications 14/01/20.
Applicant lists, cover letters and CVS provided to employers by 31/01/20.
2nd round – Placement details, including job advert, job descriptions and person specifications complete and provided to Careerwise by 31/01/20.
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