My placement experience in the signage industry
Date 15 December 2025
15.12.2025Ishmam talks about how he found his placement, what he wish he knew before starting, and advice for students looking at placement opportunities.
Sandwich year at UON
As part of my BA (Hons) International Business Management course, I opted for a sandwich placement year. This meant I was doing my placement between my second and third year. I am currently doing my placement at Northampton Signs, a signage and encasement company, as a Marketing Executive. My role involves doing digital marketing for the company’s services, as well as being part of the product development that will be introduced into the market. My role also involves integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) as much as possible into the working process to make the workflow more efficient.
How I found my placement
After an arduous and turbulent journey, where I had applied to numerous companies and interviewed with 9 different companies, I found my placement at Northampton Signs. I used the job board on the University of Northampton Student Futures website, where local companies tend to list jobs.
I used the CV36O feature on the Student Futures website to improve my current CV. In addition, I tailored my CV according to the job description to make it ATS-friendly. Also, I kept track of the feedback I received from my previous interviews to improve upon upcoming interviews.
What I wish I knew before starting
One thing I wish I had known professionally before starting is the importance of small talk. One of the core parts of working in the corporate world involves small talk. Often, small talk can help build a good relationship with your colleagues; I started doing this late, after I started my role. This meant it took time for me to build a good rapport with my colleagues.
In addition, I wish I knew some days would be really slow, and some days would be absolutely hectic, so you have to be ready for whatever situation comes your way. Therefore, it is important to be adaptable to any situation as the corporate world is dynamic and unpredictable.
Advice for students looking at placement opportunities
One of the most important pieces of advice I will give is to start early looking for placement opportunities, as most companies start to post for roles at this time of the year and leaving it till the last moment can reduce the opportunity you look for. In addition, do not procrastinate with the applications you are doing and apply to the role as soon as possible, because hiring managers can close the job listings early if they find the ideal candidate early.
Keep a journal that tracks all the feedback you have received from the interviews you have been given. If you have been rejected and you get an opportunity for another interview, you can use the feedback from the previous interview to improve your future interviews.
Use the available resources provided by UON to improve the chances of getting a placement. This can include using CV360 and interview simulation on the Student Futures website. Moreover, book an appointment with a career advisor to get feedback about your application process.
Some of the websites where you can find listings of placements include Higherin, Bright Network, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, University of Northampton Student Futures website and Gradcracker.
Lastly, if you are rejected multiple times, do not lose hope; there is a light at the end of the tunnel. One aspect that is rarely talked about is how much your self-esteem is hurt by being rejected multiple times, and doubt can grow within you. If you ever feel that way, reach out to someone to improve your motivation. Just remember it is a marathon, not a sprint.
Find out more about how UON can help with career opportunities by visiting student futures.
Learn more about Student Futures
Ishmam is a placement-year international student from Bangladesh, studying BA International Business Management. He loves journaling and reflecting on the memories he's made through looking at photos.