Saloni Desai, 4th year Computer Science student
What motivated you to apply for a placement year in the first place?
Coming from a non-computer science background before university, I genuinely wanted to understand what a career in the industry would look like before I graduated. Recognising the tech field is incredibly vast, and in today’s tough job market, finding a role you actually enjoy, rather than just a job you do, is becoming increasingly difficult. Seeing my older sister return from her placement year with nothing but wonderful things to say gave me the inspiration I needed, motivating me to apply and discover a career path that truly excites me.
How did you find your placement and what made you choose this particular organisation?
I spent my placement year as a Technology Analyst at Deloitte. I chose this over coding roles because their culture deeply resonated with me, and honestly, as a naturally talkative person, consulting just felt like a much better, more exciting fit. The whole experience was completely eye-opening. It showed me exactly how university translates into the real world, while also throwing me into a completely new routine with amazing new people and projects. I finally understand why everyone says hands-on experience is the absolute fastest way to learn. The most comforting takeaway? You might walk in on day one knowing absolutely nothing, but they hire you to learn. If you just dive in and give it your all, you’ll do well.
What were your expectations going into the year, and how did the reality compare?
Honestly, my expectations were pretty low. I pictured a somewhat boring year of standard work, nowhere near as exciting as meeting students at university but I was completely wrong; the reality was SO much better. I got the chance to go on residential trips from day one, meet a tonne of incredible new people and learn purely for the joy of it, without the looming threat of exams.
Can you describe your main responsibilities during your placement?
As a Technology Analyst in R&D Advisory, my responsibilities were incredibly dynamic, working on a project-by-project basis to guide companies in claiming R&D funding, utilising technology, finance and fast learning to translate their cutting-edge work into strong, jargon-free technical narratives. This meant constantly exploring fascinating new fields like Telecom, Transport, and AI. Instead of being bogged down in heavy coding, I was actively researching and contributing to client calls, proving how spectacularly diverse tech careers can be.
Which tasks or projects did you enjoy the most, and why?
My most rewarding project was a deeply intense, three-month client engagement. It was highly demanding, but looking back, it gave me the steepest learning curve possible! The real challenge was realising how much I could actually get involved. Generally, instead of sticking to given tasks, I pushed past my hesitation and simply asked for more. That single decision opened amazing doors to explore completely different tech roles across Deloitte and tackle exciting internal projects. Asking was definitely the best thing I did!
Was there anything you found unexpectedly challenging?
One thing I found unexpectedly challenging was juggling multiple tasks at once. At uni you can work at your own pace, but on placement priorities change quickly and things can feel a bit hectic. It was stressful at first, but it pushed me to get more organised and better at communicating, which helped me grow.
What’s one moment you’re particularly proud of from your placement?
One moment I’m really proud of was leading a client call. At the start of the year, I barely understood what was happening in calls and was just frantically taking notes to figure things out later. By the end, I was confidently asking the right questions, guiding the conversation, and presenting ideas in front of both clients and senior colleagues. It was a huge confidence boost to realise I actually knew what I was talking about.
Did the placement influence your career goals or future plans?
Gaining hands-on experience showed me how the skills I’m learning at university connect to real work. It made me much more confident that there are roles out there that suit me. Everyone’s journey is different, and it’s up to you to figure out what works best, but for me, it made the future feel exciting and achievable.