What would you do...?

Paulkarli08

Paulkarli08

Well-Known Member
I'm in a bit of a predicament, you see, I'm at the end of my second year at uni, studying Zoology, and I've just picked my modules for my 3rd year, as part of it, I've got a placement at Knowsley Safari Park for some more work experience/work based learning module in August.

Now the problem...

Now I've just got sent an application from a tutor about applying for a sandwich placement at Chester Zoo for 11 months starting in September. Now I'm unsure whether to apply of not, as it might disrupt my studies?, possibly get kept on there from the placement which means a waste of uni? and I might have to quit one of my jobs for this unpaid placement? But it's a real opportunity?!

Any ideas?
 
If Chester did want to keep you on, it would be as a graduate, not as someone who had to cut short his studies part of the way in, I would think - surely the concerns you describe must be quite common in this situation? And having a degree opens so many doors, especially at the bigger research-oriented places, and indeed in life in general. I would talk to the people involved, especially at Chester (maybe at interview?), it would not do your chances any harm, in fact it would show you were serious.

Just my thoughts; I made a disastrously bad decision at postgraduate level so know how difficult it is.
 
Think out all the pros and cons, then talk to your tutor before you make your final decision.

Alan
 
A year isn't that long a time in the grand scheme of things. If you impress people during your sandwich year then they're unlikely to forget about you within the next year whilst you finish off your degree, especially if you pop back and visit. They expect sandwich placements to last one year, not to be seen as a graduate training scheme and so won't necessarily have a job available at the end of it. As far as chance goes the odds of them having a job come up at the exact point your sandwich ends is comparable to the odds of one coming up the following may when you're job hunting having finished your degree.

The real question here as far as I see it is whether you can afford to take a sandwich year. Is the disruption of moving, and the cost of volunteering for a year going to be outwieghed by the benefits the experience will give you. Only you can know the answer to that as there are so many factors involved. Experience is very important as anyone here can tell you, but there are so many different ways to gain that experience.
 
Gosh, how wonderful to get two offers from two different Zoos while at Uni, but what a predicament! Good luck in whatever you decide to go for! :)
 
How many Zoology graduates are there every year? Quite a lot.

How many have significant work experience in a zoo? Not that many.

A placement at Chester may not result in a job there but a good reference from them will definitely help in finding a job after graduation. It will set you apart from the other applicants.

Go for it. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
 
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