My name is Suyan and I’m studying MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management at Bournemouth University.  I have just completed my 40-week placement at one of the best seaside hotels in Bournemouth.

I used the information on BU’s MyCareerHub to help search for job vacancies, guidance on CV writing and interview techniques.  I also made a number of appointments with BU’s career advisers before I actually applied for any jobs; they helped me tailor my CV and make it stand out.

Before applying, I knew that I would rather do my placement in Bournemouth, considering the inconvenience of moving and leaving the friends that I had made in Bournemouth behind. I found my placement through Bournemouth University’s MyCareerHub jobs board. The job description, company location and application process were clearly outlined. To me, this job was ideal as I would work as a management trainee and oversee all the operational business of the hotel. The application process for my placement was very straightforward. I applied immediately at the beginning of December to avoid the busy Christmas holiday period. I then had a telephone interview in January and was invited to a face-to-face interview after one week with the General Manager of the hotel.

During my interview, I was asked a lot of questions about my past experience, such as my previous part-time jobs, volunteering experience and experience of being a school representative and Bournemouth University Student Ambassador.

After two weeks, I was told that I got picked to be the only placement student working in the hotel! Hoho, lucky!

Working abroad is exciting and challenging. This job gave me greater responsibilities than I had ever had before. My job was primarily assisting the Guest Service Manager in carrying out daily operations. Training areas included working in the restaurant, room service, culinary, bar and café, conference and banqueting. Six months into my placement, I was able to manage and delegate to a team of people and train new members of staff.

I received help from my Placement Development Advisor at BU throughout my placement. He helped me make sure that I was happy with my placement and guided me to make the best of my placement year experience.

There are also some other ways that BU can help you secure your placement, such as attending career fairs and contacting the professionals, as BU’s teaching staff have connections within the industry.

Suyan Zou