How will I get a Placement?

This is the task put in front of me for the next couple of months before the end of my second semester. The placement I think I will absolutely need if I'm going to stand any chance of getting my foot in through the door of the creative world.
I sometimes doubt whether I will be able to survive after I finish my degree and try to proceed through my career, but I feel that this is the process of learning and will require living a bit. I often think the little things in life are often the most important things, which are missed out by the average person. So the question at hand of what I really want to do next year (between my 2nd yr and final yr) I could take the option of continuing into final year and try to (I think) take a risk relying solely on my work and experience's to be successful, another choice is to do a study year in Europe or the U.S using such schemes as ERASMUS or ISEP this I think could as beneficial as going on a work placement, for it supplies great material for my C.V and adds a to my experiences in life already which would stand me in good steed for my future.
But my main tasks now are to continue to chip away at the mountain to gain forward motion in my future which will require me to create portfolio's, a C.V, placement documents and a thick skin.