CONTENTS:

1. CV Content Guide and Tips

2. FAQs and how the scheme works

1. CV Content Guide:
• This is a guide for the YINI CV Template we ask you to provide as part of the registration process
and the document we will use to try and secure company interviews for you.
• Please do not alter the header & footer sections. Do not add your contact or full address details –
we only release this information to companies at the point of offer. Please Do Not change or move
the headings around.
• First section of the CV:

Name Your First name & Last name Driving Licence Full/ Provisional/ None
Location Your main UK Town/ City of Own Transport Yes/ None
residence only
Education
School/ College The last school or college you attended OR your current school or college
University University you currently attend OR universities you are applying to
Course/Intended The full name of your current undergraduate course
Course e.g. BEng/ MEng Mechanical Engineering, your anticipated graduation date with
a YINI and your predicted/ expected degree outcome e.g. 2.1, 2. 2 etc.
OR
The name of the Undergraduate course or courses you are or intend to apply for

If you intend to apply for apprenticeships as well as or instead of a degree course,

state intended Apprenticeship: discipline

• Education & Qualifications include all of the following information:

o For undergraduates, you should list BOTH your first and second year degree module titles
and any grades achieved as percentages.
o For 3rd year undergrad students, please include your key year 3rd year module titles
underneath the module tables e.g. Third year modules: Module title 1, Module title 2 etc.
• Higher Qualifications – include:
o Your A level or A level equivalents (clearly state what kind of exam this is e.g. BTEC/ HND/
Advanced Highers/ other), the subject names and EITHER your achieved OR predicted grades
(not both)
o Pre-university students should include a full list of their GCSE/ Equivalent qualifications and
grades achieved or Highschool leaving qualification/ exam. Please make it clear what
qualification you have taken if not standard UK qualifications.
o Undergraduates should add a summary of their GCSE or equivalent qualifications.
• IT Skills
o List all the IT packages/ software languages you are familiar with (name individual Microsoft
Office programs – Word, Excel etc.) Give examples of how/ when you have used them and
give an indication of your proficiency. E.g. I have used the advanced features of Excel
extensively throughout my studies.

Oct 2020
 o Include knowledge of and experience with hardware, software, firmware, networks,
operating Systems, databases etc. E.g. I built my own PC; I have used the following operating
system/ database. I have taught myself C++.

• Additional Skills and Achievements:

o Include Competencies (team working, problem solving, communication, presentations etc.)
o Include knowledge or experience with workshop or lab equipment and processes. Give
specific examples e.g. Lathe, titration equipment, Stripped down an engine etc.
o Include brief details of any relevant school/ university project work – highlighting your
personal contribution and learning outcomes
o Each skill stated should be supported with a brief personal example to illustrate the skills/
knowledge.
o Include details of any other schemes e.g. EES, Headstart, Arkwright etc. Give brief project
outlines; emphasise what you did/ learnt
o Detail the languages you speak with your proficiency level, including English if this is not
your first language. E.g. I can speak and write German at an advanced level; I have a basic
understanding of Arabic etc.
o Any other relevant courses (E.g. First Aid, H&S, Industry standards)
o Any significant achievements Academic or extracurricular.

• Positions of Responsibility:
o Any extra-curricular responsibility e.g. mentoring
o Any extra responsibility at work e.g. cashing up
o Any leadership or team responsibilities e.g. Team Captain
o If you cannot think of content for this section, delete this heading

• Work Experience/ Employment History:

o Any paid, full time or part time employment or voluntary work. Include dates and duration
of each experience (e.g. 1 month in the summer of 2015; Feb 2014 to Aug 2014; Feb 2015 –
present etc.)
o Give a brief outline of your duties and any learning points.
o At this stage – it’s all relevant, including your paper round – list in order starting with the
most recent OR the most relevant if you already have some industry experience.
• Career Statement:
o Think of this as a personal statement which will tell a company manager:
▪ Why you want to complete a placement
▪ What you want to get out of the experience
▪ How it will benefit you in the short and medium term
▪ What you will bring to the company
o You should demonstrate enthusiasm for your subject and relevant interests but avoid being
too narrow or prescriptive. This CV will be used for potentially several applications and we
cannot guarantee a place with particular company; we are looking for a discipline relevant
placement to develop transferrable skills. Your long term career goal may be to design and
build a mini death start to orbit Mars but your YINI placement will be with a company

Oct 2020
 concerned with more terrestrial business projects. They are looking for students who will
both benefit from and be interested in the placements they are offering, in their particular
sector. They may be looking for potential candidates for their graduate intake in a few years.
o This statement should be no more than 3 or 4 sentences long, so make it concise and
relevant.

• Hobbies and Interests:

o Include any discipline related interests or pastimes. E.g. take things apart& sometimes fix
electrical gadgets; carry out your own bike or car maintenance; maintain the family PC.
o Club, Society or affiliate/ student professional Institute membership
o Sports interests and activities
o Other interests/ schemes or projects
o Don’t make things up to impress – you will be found out!
o This section should be brief – if it is longer than your career plans statement, you need to re-
think it.
General Tips:

• Do check for spelling and grammar mistakes – get someone else to read it through.
o Some employers will reject a CV on spelling & grammar mistakes alone
• Do use positive business language and statements. Achieved; possess, created, delivered,
established etc.
o Avoid phrases like: I believe, I hope, I think
o Avoid using abbreviations and contractions e.g. I’ve, I’d
o Avoid conversational language
o Avoid using obscure words unless you know what they mean and what context to use them
in.
o Avoid bland, generic statements. Make it personal.
• Do Use the first person NOT the third person.
• All qualification and grade statements must be accurate – a company may well ask for certificates
and/ or transcripts at the point of offer.
• Do - use short statements and bullet points where appropriate. Make it easier for a potential
employer to pick out relevant information: What you know, have achieved, demonstrated and
can do.
o Avoid big chunks of dense text – they won’t be read. This is a CV, not an essay assignment.
You have approximately 5 seconds to catch a recruiter’s attention before they move onto
the next CV in the pile.
o Provide highlights, key information and talking points, not the full story.
• NB: YOUR CV SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN TWO PAGES LONG.

All the CVs we send out to companies are in the same format, simplifying the process for potential
employers. However, the content is your own, so it is worth spending some time in making this a document
to ‘sell’ yourself as effectively as possible. Remember, you will be competing with other Year in Industry
students for interview opportunities.

Oct 2020
 1. FAQs and how the scheme works

When do placements start and finish?

This varies from company to company. Most placements start In July/August/September and finish July to Sept of the
following year. We occasionally have shorter placement as requested by our partner companies but the expectation
for most is that you intend to stay with the company for a year. Earlier finish dates are by agreement with the
company but we would not recommend planning to finish a placement before a 10 month period of employment is
complete
What kind of work do students do?
They may be carrying out research, designing prototypes, planning projects, working on marketing, HR or
communications and PR projects; managing projects, manipulating data, modelling or devising new working
methods, fault finding & process improvement, test & verification, CAD work. Projects vary considerably and are
dependent on company needs.
Where are placements located?
We place students throughout the United Kingdom – mainly in England and Scotland with a few places in parts of
Wales. Ability to be flexible about location increases the students’ chance of finding a placement but we try to work
with students own preferences wherever possible.
Can students live away from home?
Yes, many of our students do. They often arrange house shares with other students placed in their area. EDT don’t
arrange accommodation but we do put students in touch with other students placed in their area. Occasionally a
host company may be able to provide more information about local rental agencies etc.
What choice do students have about companies?
We aim to match students with a company, which will give them relevant experience, but we cannot guarantee the
student a placement in a specific company or sector. We are happy to follow up contacts students may already have
in companies of their choice.
How much are students paid?
As a guide, salaries can range around £14,000 - £15,000+ p.a. depending on your entry level (i.e. Pre-university or
Undergraduate). Undergraduates can earn up to £19K +
Is there a chance of sponsorship for University or graduate opportunities?
Certainly. Many of our companies use the scheme to select for sponsorships, vacation work and future graduate
employment or the chance to collaborate on final year dissertations.
Is there a chance of getting onto a company Higher Apprenticeship?
Yes, a number of students will go onto join their placement company’s apprenticeship scheme on completion of their
placement.
What do Universities think if pre-university students opt to take part in The Year in Industry?
Students should tell their admissions tutor that they are considering ‘deferred entry’. In almost every case they
encourage industrial experience. It may be better to get a Year in Industry placement confirmed before definitely
deferring. Ask your first choice and reserve universities what their cut off date is for deferring.
What support does the scheme offer during the year’s work?
A mentor service and ad-hoc discounted industry training courses.
What else does YINI offer?
• To ensure your mathematical skills don’t fade, we have an optional distance-learning university mathematics
module available. (For pre-university students)
• To get you ahead of the game in the work environment, we offer an optional free business and industry
sector bespoke courses throughout the placement year.
• All students are encouraged to register for student Professional Institute Membership and for those already
registered, placement activity counts towards CPD content .

Oct 2020
Are students guaranteed a place on the scheme?
No. It is a competitive process. The final decision rests with companies, who will be influenced by examination
grades/ Module results (though not exclusively), personal qualities, interests and motivation, CV content and
interview performance.
What can I do to maximise my application and chances of success
You will need to ensure you have sent us your evidence of entitlement to work in the UK. Ensure you send us a
complete and updated YINI format CV and respond to our emails and messages promptly. Above all you need to be
open minded about roles that will become available and their location.

The YINI Placement Process – How the scheme works

Step 1 September onwards

 Aim for good exam/ module results
Meet the registration  You should have the ability to go to university/ apply for apprenticeship
requirements schemes or be taking a placement year as part of your current degree
 Motivated to work for a year
 Some ability & skills in IT advantageous
 EEA nationality, or appropriate permission to work in UK
Step 2 September onwards
 Apply anytime on-line at www.yini.org.uk, but please note that there are
Complete & submit application better opportunities for applications received by the beginning of
January
 Your application will be assessed and you will be contacted via email
with instructions on how to complete your application: request for
Evidence of Entitlement to work in the UK and a completed YINI CV
template
Step 3 October onwards
 You will be asked to book an EDT YINI telephone interview via an on-
Telephone interview with YINI line booking site
staff  You may also be invited to sign up for CV and interview workshops
Step 4 Oct/ Nov onwards
 Post interview email
Post interview email  Receive Welcome email with further scheme information.
Step 5 Dec – September
 Requirements matched between students & companies.
Register interest in placement  Register your interest in YINI web vacancies/ respond to YINI vacancy
vacancies- attend interviews emails
at company premises  http://www.etrust.org.uk/year-industry/vacancies
 Placement Interviews arranged by YINI, these can be via video platform
and/ or on company premises.
 Keep in touch with YINI staff and tell us if your plans change
Step 6 January – September
 If offer made by company – 3 days to accept/reject.
Accept placement offer  If accepting ensure university entry deferred/ University approval by
Placement office secured
Step 7 August - September
 Commence industrial placement.
Join company  You will be employed directly by your placement company
 EDT Placement staff will stay in touch and provide support throughout
your placement and assign a volunteer mentor to you
 First EDT mentor meetings follow shortly.
 Enter Regional and National competitions – details will be provided by
EDT
 Further EDT mentor meetings/ calls/ emails to check on progress.
Step 8 During Placement Year
 Bespoke skills Master classes/ workshops
Personal Development Courses  Bespoke distance-learning maths course

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