Title: - “The year out placement in a nutshell”
It has to be said, the most daunting part of a year out placement is actually finding one.
Final year has to be one of the most daunting parts of any year, and your job hunting attempts doesn’t help with the overwhelming burden of final year deadlines, and the thought of your degree classification.
And here’s the catch, employers expect much more from you than your fellow course tutors. Indeed, they expect you to know the construction details for a standard piece of street furniture or even planning policy and technical terms which are probably beyond the scope of an undergraduate degree programme. Nevertheless, most do understand your situation, and all are looking for people who are willing to learn and contribute.
When you have managed to put your foot in the door, don’t be too pleased yet! You will have a lot to learn, and be able to prove yourself in a dynamic workplace. This is certainly no exception for TLP. You will be expected to work hard and to be able to meet tight schedules. The good news is everyone is in the same boat. So there’s no need to panic.
For starters, everyone at TLP is friendly and welcoming. You feel part of the team, and there is a sense of pride as all your efforts contribute to live projects. One things for certain, you can forget about spending an entire year merely just photocopying or making tea. You will be drawing on CAD, utilising Photoshop for presentations, generating planting plans, and contributing like everyone else. There have been occasions where deadlines can get quite intense, but the experience is rewarding when things get done and spot on. I have only been at TLP for 11 months, but have certainly learnt a lot, particularly being independent when it comes to problem solving and not being afraid to ask questions when things get a little tedious. Things can get a little chaotic when it comes to meeting deadlines, but that’s life in the world of work. TLP is a challenging environment, and is good experience if you want to develop your computer skills as well as landscape, but don’t expect to be spoon fed.
Colleagues understand that you are new to the profession, so any work you do will be within your capability. Even if it isn’t, there are always people who will be more than merry to help you. The learning curve is pretty steep, but the experience is rewarding every time you become competent with each step.
Wing Lai
Student, Graduate (BA (Hons) / DipLA)
SLIC Sheffield University Representative
Formerly worked for The Landscape Partnership during year out