I am just about to start a MEng course at Uni, and will be taking the placement year as i have three friends all with Aerospace and Aeronautical degrees and working in jobs that you can walk into after school.
The problem, experience. So taking a year in industry in year three is the way to go, as least then you get a years experience, and then that could lead to that company sponsering or offering you a job, and most placement years are paid almost grad rates.
I do however have one friend who works for a company supplying Airbus, and he finds himself over in france a fair bit recently, and all he has is a HND in Aero Eng. The case of right time right place i think...
What Uni's did you guys go to? You think a placement year really will make any difference to my employability in 5 years?