Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. This week, ideas and links to find work and improve employability…
POINT ONE: WORK AROUND YOUR STUDY…
Part time jobs can be a good source of income for students, but there are some hidden benefits too. Having a job can help you with time management, communication, understanding business and customer needs, team working and problem solving – all things which look good when you are applying for jobs after university. If you can get a job in your chosen subject area, you could develop links within the organisation that may help you in the future.
You may even be able to apply for a job as a student ambassador here at the University
Be careful not to take on too much, remember that this should be supporting your study and not overwhelming it. Fulltime undergraduate students are recommended to only take on roles of less than 20 hours per week (during semester time) and if you’re an international student, you need to check your visa for any limitations.
If you’d like further advice, have a look at the Careers and Employability webpages.
POINT TWO: COMPLETE AN EMPLOYABILITY AWARD…
The Worcester Award is an employability award run by the Careers & Employability team. It allows you to record extra activities you engage in during your time at the University of Worcester and encourages you to reflect upon how these activities can help to improve your future employability. Gaining the Worcester Award will make you stand out from the crowd!
You can apply for Bronze, Silver, Gold or platinum awards. It’s a brilliant addition to your CV, as well as a great talking point at interviews and on application forms. The award is recorded online and you can register via your myCareer portal.
If you have any questions, email worcesteraward@worc.ac.uk or call 01905 855354.
POINT THREE: SPEAK WITH AN ADVISER…
The Careers and Employability Service aims to enable students to recognise and develop their attributes and experiences, to better plan and manage their future career and be able to promote themselves professionally and positively to the job market.
You can book an appointment with an adviser for help with CV’s, covering letters and application forms. If you need some guidance on job searches or techniques to brush up on your interview technique, they can help with that too! Book online through your myCareer portal.
POINT FOUR: MAKE USE OF ONLINE TOOLS…
As a University of Worcester student or graduate, you have access to a range of online tools to support you in your career journey. Log in at a time and place that suits you!
The CV Builder will guide you through planning your CV and deciding what to include, to how to structure it for maximum impact.
Practice your interview skills at a time and place that suits you through a series of video mock interviews curated by Careers & Employability staff. Your responses will be recorded as you answer typical interview questions which you can then review along with feedback on your technique.
If you need help in deciding what to do next, then the Career Planner is for you! Whether you need some career inspiration, want to find out more about jobs, or just don’t have a clue what to do next, this pathway can help.
POINT FIVE: BROWSE THE RESOURCES…
The Careers & Employability Service have a dedicated area within firstpoint where you can find ‘how to’ handouts with information on psychometric tests, improving your CV and interview techniques amongst others. Come in and have a look!
The guides are also available to download from your myCareer portal. In addition, myCareer also has links to careers workshops, designed to help you brush up on your skills and meet other students in a similar position. These are run throughout the year and cover topics such as applications for Graduate Schemes, CV basics, personal branding and life planning. To sign up, simply visit the myCareer portal and take your pick.
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