Not finding a placement is stressful, especially as the term approaches. But there are almost always more paths to try. This guide gives you concrete steps to take when the search feels stuck.
If you cannot find a placement, do three things: broaden your search, activate your network and get help from the school. Many positions are filled through contacts before they are advertised, and acting early and with focus significantly increases your chances.
Why it sometimes takes time#
Placements are perishable. The best ones are filled early, competition can be fierce in popular industries and big cities, and many positions never appear in an advert. It taking time rarely means it is impossible — it usually means you need to search more broadly and more smartly.
Step 1: Broaden your search#
- Look beyond the best-known employers. Smaller companies and neighbouring municipalities often have less competition. Read more about placements in small companies.
- Be flexible about location and field if your programme allows it.
- Search across several channels — placement platforms, companies' career pages and industry networks.
Step 2: Activate your network#
Tell family, friends, former colleagues and teachers that you are looking for a placement. Be concrete about industry and period. Many positions never appear in an advert but are filled through someone who knows someone. Building your presence on LinkedIn also makes you easier to find.
Step 3: Get help from the school#
Your programme wants you to succeed with your placement. Contact your LIA coordinator, APL manager or study counsellor and tell them you are stuck. They often have contacts and can help you further. If the placement has already started and is not working, read how the school handles problems during the placement.
Step 4: Strengthen your application#
Sometimes it is not about the supply but about how you apply. Review your placement CV and your cover letter. Aim the application at each workplace and show your motivation. A thoughtful application gets a reply far more often.
Step 5: Contact workplaces directly#
Do not always wait for adverts. Reaching out directly to a workplace you are interested in, with a short and clear enquiry, can open a door that would otherwise never have appeared. Be polite, concrete and easy to reply to.
How Prakto can help#
Prakto gathers placements and makes it easier to search by location and field, while the school gets an overview of which students still lack a position. That means no one has to fall through the cracks as the term approaches.
Frequently asked questions#
What do I do if I can't find a placement?#
Broaden your search, activate your network and contact the school. Also review your application. Many positions are filled through contacts, so dare to reach out directly to workplaces.
Who is responsible for me getting a placement?#
It depends on the placement type. For APL in upper secondary school the school has a clear responsibility, while YH students often find their LIA themselves with support from the programme. Always contact the school if you are stuck.
Is it too late if I don't have a place when term starts?#
Not necessarily. Contact your programme as soon as possible — they may have contacts and solutions, and a position can appear even late.
Conclusion#
Not having found a placement is an obstacle, not a dead end. Broaden your search, use your network, get help from the school and strengthen your application. By acting early and with focus, most people eventually find a place that works.
Sources#
- Arbetsförmedlingen — tips for job and placement seekers.
- Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education — on LIA and the programmes' responsibility.
