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Get set for your career

Introduction

Mapping out your career journey will help to motivate you during the final year of your degree.

This guide will provide key information and resources, no matter what you decide your next step is, whether you are considering continuing with a postgraduate degree, applying for a graduate scheme, or if you are applying for a job after you graduate.

Take the first step to the future professional you. Book onto a workshop or arrange a 1-1 with the Careers Advice team or listen to a webinar on making a career plan.

Tips

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Writing your CV and job applications

Learning how to evidence your skills and experience on application forms and your CV is key to getting that call for an interview. Here are a few resources to help you see how you can do this and reap the benefits.

Mike Grey, Head of University Partnerships at Gradconsult Ltd, has some great advice on how to approach this; it is a 12-minute read and could make a real difference to the success of your applications.

You could also try a personal SWOT analysis. Watch this recorded webinar to help you identify your key skills, abilities and strengths.

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Preparing for interview

Interviews take a variety of forms and success in them comes down to the preparation you do beforehand. We have some resources that will help you prepare for any interviews you have coming up, whether they be in person or online.

To get a good idea of how to prepare for an interview why not listen to our webinar on interview skills?

Once you have listened to the webinar you might want to practise what you have heard. The University has bought an online interview practice site called Shortlist Me where you can practise with a range of interviews from a cross section of different employers and industries to make sure you can present yourself at your best.

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Continue your career progression with a postgraduate degree

Many students are deciding to continue their studies and career journey but studying for a Masters degree.

Reasons to study a Masters include:

  1. Progressing a current career path and improving employment prospects
  2. Taking a specialist route in a chosen career path
  3. Change of career
  4. Meeting the requirements of a specific job
  5. Developing personal interests
  6. Progress to a higher-level qualification (such as a PhD).

A Masters degree will help you stand out from other candidates and provide more specialised knowledge with a higher qualification. However, it also requires commitment and hard work, so make sure you talk to your tutor and choose your course wisely.

Listen to this postgraduate study online webinar to find out useful information to help you decide if postgraduate study is for you.

Learn more about UWL postgraduate studies
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Develop your employability skills

Employability skills are the core skills and traits that are considered to make someone more ‘employable’.

Whilst the knowledge you get from your course is essential, most employers look for graduates that can showcase transferable skills and stand out from other candidates.

LinkedIn have published a list of the top 10 employability skills for 2021:

  1. Communication
  2. Initiative
  3. Adaptability
  4. Problem solving
  5. Collaboration
  6. Time management
  7. Emotional intelligence
  8. Eagerness to learn and evolve
  9. Creativity
  10. Project management.

You will learn many of these through your course or part-time work. But it is also a good idea to expand your activities. You can take part in a sport, join a society, or volunteer.

Also, don’t forget to explore LinkedIn Learning for great resources and videos on employability skills.