Natalie Louise Collins

Why did you apply to the University and why did you choose that course?

I applied to the BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography course at the University of Bradford, and I got a quick reply offering the BSc (Hons) Clinical Technology instead as they felt it would be a better fit for me. Not being aware of this course, I researched it and also attended an Open Day to find out more about it.

During the Open Day, the lecturers and students were very open to questions, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the campus. Having been out of education for nearly 20 years, the size of the campus did not make me feel overwhelmed. After learning more about the course and the interesting mix of practical and written subjects provided, I decided to accept the offer.

What steps did you take to improve your employability whilst at university?

As mentioned above, I had not originally applied for the course including the placement year, but realised during my second year that this would be a good opportunity to gain some experience in the relevant industry, so I transferred to the sandwich year.

I also joined the University Equestrian Team during the second year to gain a wider sense of belonging here and provide a more well-rounded university experience.

How did Career and Employability Services / Placement Staff support you during your time at university?

The Faculty Careers Staff provided a timetabled course of weekly Pre-Placement lectures/presentations about how to look and apply for placements from the beginning of the second year which was very helpful.  In addition, a timetabled ‘Drop-in’ sessions are also provided where students can ‘drop-in’ and meet Faculty Careers Staff to get feedback on their applications and to discuss any placement related queries.

They also encouraged booking specific one-to-one sessions which I utilised to improve my CV and Covering Letter. Once I had decided to apply for a placement, the Service enabled interview preparation and practice – this was particularly helpful to me as it had been many years since I had attended a serious interview!

I am also planning to use the service as much as possible during my final year to help me find a job in my preferred industry.

Tell us about your current (or previous) placement and what makes you successful in securing the placement?

During my placement, I learned a lot about the process of developing a medical device from the concept stage through to gaining approvals for release. I was very involved with a 3rd party project including the first proper build of a number of devices that would be used in the ‘First In Human’ trial. There was also an ongoing project to build two new tubing sets which I was included in.

For both of the above projects, I was in the production clean room overseeing or doing the product builds and responsible for the creation of the documentation required to go alongside the development such as specifications for components and trial protocols/reports. I was pleasantly surprised how much I was involved with the projects and the responsibility I was given throughout my placement – although I always felt well supported and able to voice any concerns that I had over my workload. I believe this placement has given me valuable experience in this industry and feel sure that much of what I did is transferable into other careers.

The guidance provided to me by Career and Employability Services when preparing my CV and cover letter for the application definitely helped me to get as far as the interview stage!

Although the actual interview did not raise any of the questions that had been in the practice sessions, those sessions helped me understand the basic principles of interviews and make me feel confident when walking in and whilst I was delivering my presentation.

What advice would you give to current students about finding a placement (and/or work experience) opportunities?

I would encourage students to attend the focused weekly Pre-placement lectures and Drop-in sessions – these sessions are there to help and support you in applying for industrial placements.  Towards the end of SEM 1 Pre-Placement sessions, you will be able to listen to ‘returning placement students’ presentation about their experience whilst on placement.  You will also have the opportunity to ask question during the Q&A session.

At the same time to use the Career and Employability Services as much as possible and from as early as possible. Even if students are proactively looking for a role themselves (speculative applications), the Service is valuable in the support they provide!