The Student Room Group

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Something relevant to your course and intended career. How can anyone, without knowing you personally, suggest the most constructive thing you could possibly do? Do an internship at a public agency. Do volunteer work. Start a business/charity. Do what you like!
Reply 2
-Grab an AS/A2 level in something e.g. Further Maths
-Get on a gap-year placement at places like PwC

Knogle - any ideas what public agencies will give gap year students an internship?

Also, when do you have to start applying for gap year programmes starting next year (between Sept. 2007 - June 2008) particularly at competitive places e.g. PwC and Deloitte? Thanks.
Reply 3

Knogle - any ideas what public agencies will give gap year students an internship?
Unfortunately I'm not from the UK, so I wouldn't know. But I would highly suggest that you give every option a shot, even if they're not available to just A-level holders on a gap year. Fill up the application form anyway. For agencies which don't publicise any internship/attachment programmes, contact HR directly. Basically, be proactive and show tremendous interest in your future! I'm confident that you'll find a golden gem or two, which will serve you well in terms of work experience.
Reply 4
there is a work experience with bank of england(you can blag about monetary policy at your cambridge interview), PWC, Deloitte and a couple of other audit firms.
Reply 5
I'd strongly encourage people to make the best use of their gap years. Enrol yourself in language courses. Pick up exciting skills/hobbies like diving and flying. Work at a respectable corporation.. if possible, get a stint at both a government agency and a private firm. Basically, maximise your exposure and build a network of strong contacts. This will serve you very well both during your undergrad term, and upon graduation.

EDIT: You might also be interested in the military. http://www.sandhurst.mod.uk/courses/index.htm#gapyear. It's a good choice, trust me.
Reply 6
Knogle
I'd strongly encourage people to make the best use of their gap years. Enrol yourself in language courses. Pick up exciting skills/hobbies like diving and flying. Work at a respectable corporation.. if possible, get a stint at both a government agency and a private firm. Basically, maximise your exposure and build a network of strong contacts. This will serve you very well both during your undergrad term, and upon graduation.

EDIT: You might also be interested in the military. http://www.sandhurst.mod.uk/courses/index.htm#gapyear. It's a good choice, trust me.


Pfft, effort :cool:

Nah seriously though, thanks for the advice. The unfortunate thing in my case is, I won't know if I want to take a gap year until Warwick reply - which could be until the end of March, by which time most of the good placements will be taken. Anyway, I'll keep looking :yy:
Reply 7
Synergetic
Pfft, effort :cool:

Nah seriously though, thanks for the advice. The unfortunate thing in my case is, I won't know if I want to take a gap year until Warwick reply - which could be until the end of March, by which time most of the good placements will be taken. Anyway, I'll keep looking :yy:

No pain, no gain. I've spent my past two years in the military.. and whilst it's had its downsides, I've grown, matured, and gained a tremendous lot. Not just personally, but professionally.
i wouldn't bet on getting into PWC or Deloitte - they're heavily oversubscribed, and most of the applications were in before christmas. it's first (best) come first serve basically.

do some business stuff on ebay maybe...

x
Reply 9
mylastserenade

do some business stuff on ebay maybe...

x


To be fair, I don't think that would be the most appropriate 'work' you could do - it's probably not what universities are looking for.

Might be a decent way to pick up some cash though :yy:
Reply 10

do some business stuff on ebay maybe...
Ew, I'd suggest against that if you could get your hands on a professional stint.
Reply 11
Knogle
No pain, no gain. I've spent my past two years in the military.. and whilst it's had its downsides, I've grown, matured, and gained a tremendous lot. Not just personally, but professionally.


Yeah but I don't think you're quite comprehending just how pathetically lazy I am. :biggrin:

But it sounds great dude - it shows a lot of commitment and skill to have done something like that. I'm sure you must've loved it too though :smile:
Reply 12
Go for the BoE or a think tank like the Adam Smith Institute. Ignore accountants. One word, BORING.

Or you could try trading for a year, hard work but I find it really useful and awesome fun. Though, for anyone who contemplates doing this, don't tell Cambridge, if they think you are "using Cambridge as a stepping stone to the City" they treat you like people who think it's a finishing school.
I think its the same for the Big 4 Gap Schemes as trading. IMO they don't improve your PS in any way at all. The Director of Undergraduate Studies always goes on in his lectures here about how he hates the way that the big financial firms "steal" his economists. BOE Gap Year is a different story though, its relevant and shows a strong interest in Economics.
Reply 14
Synergetic
Yeah but I don't think you're quite comprehending just how pathetically lazy I am. :biggrin:

But it sounds great dude - it shows a lot of commitment and skill to have done something like that. I'm sure you must've loved it too though :smile:

It had its peaks and troughs. But I've come out a stronger man, I must say. :smile:

Go for the BoE or a think tank like the Adam Smith Institute.
Great suggestion.

Or you could try trading for a year, hard work but I find it really useful and awesome fun.
I wouldn't advice that the average Joe pick this up. You could end up a total failure if you lack market wisdom, and essentially destroyed your gap year.

B4 gap schemes are not as bad as they're being made out to be above. Ultimately you've got to be of a certain quality to qualify, and you do finish the attachment with some experience and knowledge under your belt.
The best way to construct a gap-year would be to split it between work and travel. A number of firms offer gap-year placements: all the Big4 (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and Ernst&Young), Accenture, Rothschild, Bank of England and IBM (however the latter 3 stretch beyond 6 months I believe). There are many more which you can find through a little research and of course there is also Year in Industry who will offer you a vast amount of interview experience if nothing else.

Bank of England would of course be most complementary to Economics, but that aside, IMO the best placements offered are by the Big4 firms. You will be paid well, in most cases either given a further travelling bursary or the opportunity to be sponsored throughout university (£1.5k per year plus a further 2 months paid employment each year) and most importantly: you will be involved in similiar work to new graduates, and therefore the experience is unmatchable. Needless to say, it will heavily advantage you when applying for internships/graduate jobs. If all goes well, a place at the same firm is almost guaranteed. Whether it offers the same advantage when applying to university I don't know, but I can't see any admission tutor looking down on this; most people will come out of it more confident and more able to make the most of university.

I haven't checked it out this year, but this time last year - majority places were still available (bar a few in London which is the most competitive). As long as you don't miss the boat and have a half decent application, you will make the first rounds and from thereon it's all on you. :yy:
Reply 16
can you do internships/work experiences like that during your summer right before entering uni?? because im interested to do something even without getting $
Reply 17
shonnino
can you do internships/work experiences like that during your summer right before entering uni?? because im interested to do something even without getting $

There's nothing illegal about it, if that's what you're asking. It's all about whether a firm/agency wants to have you on board.
hmm..army seems intresting..its all about "teamwork and work ethic" right?

although i would feel extremly guilty about doing it considering im probably not going to serve in the Russian army (i dont mind..but i think most of the recruits wont like to have a 21yr whos lived most of his life in UK lol)..heck i felt guilty being part of the CCF @ School lol :wink:
Reply 19
abrp
hmm..army seems intresting..its all about "teamwork and work ethic" right?

although i would feel extremly guilty about doing it considering im probably not going to serve in the Russian army (i dont mind..but i think most of the recruits wont like to have a 21yr whos lived most of his life in UK lol)..heck i felt guilty being part of the CCF @ School lol :wink:


you're 21?