Hello! I’m Ella, a final year English Literature student and Career Peer Support Assistant. Here’s a round up of some of the takeaways from the Faculty of Arts Careers Series, which invited 41 University of Bristol alumni and industry experts to share their experiences and tips, and ran through February 2024.
Regardless of which industry you end up in, these 5 insights are transferable across sectors came up again and again…
1. Networking
It’s not just about building relationships with people ahead of you in their career. One of the panellists emphasised the important of networking horizontally as well vertically. The individuals you start your journey with could one day contribute great things to the industry – building relationships with them means you can learn from their journeys and develop alongside.
Even if you spend some time after your degree working in a stop-gap job while you search for your ideal role, your colleagues may share your interests and be able to tell you about relevant events or opportunities.
Also take advantage of the contacts you have at university. As long as you’re not asking too much, people are usually happy to offer their advice. Getting your name known in different places and areas can make finding a job easier later down the line, particularly if people are keen to recommend you.
LinkedIn is a powerful social media resource for our careers, and connecting with contacts you meet is a great way to keep hold of them.
2. Take every opportunity
During and after your degree, strive to take every opportunity. You can’t know for certain what it is you would like to do until you have a go at doing it. Though unpaid voluntary work is not always possible for students, it can be easier to find than paid opportunities, and offer opportunity to build experience and all-important contacts. The same goes for involvement in student societies that are close to your heart.
If you would like experience running an organisation, take the initiative and check what roles are available within university societies. Most will advertise for presidents, treasurers and other roles on an annual basis. It is better to try things and learn for certain that you don’t enjoy them, than not to try them! Candidates who have worked in a variety of roles and have a valuable multi-layered perspective may be more successful and employable in their chosen area.
3. Get your work online
One of the panellists who found work in television made ‘silly comedy sketches’ alongside their degree that got into film festivals and were shown across the world. The panellists who found work in journalism started by blogging. Aspiring creatives should trust their instincts in deciding which projects best showcase their skills and interests. If you post something on the internet, you will normally be given feedback, and feedback is the best way to grow.
Having a virtual presence is important for other sectors too, and LinkedIn is a great place to do this. Even if you don’t have any formal work experience, having a written bio or potentially a personal reference from one of your lecturers still shows your personality and that you are keen to engage in new experiences.
‘Looking for work’ posts can sometimes go viral if they hit the spot for employers, so this can be a great tool to make yourself more visible if used carefully. Follow the profiles of places you think you’d like to work at and subscribe to their newsletters.
4. Carve out your niche
Follow your interests – it is never too early to develop and promote your niche, and this begins here. Spontaneous trains of thought can turn into great ideas, and finding a way to stand out in a competitive industry can be invaluable. It’s helpful to learn about the sector beforehand, as it should give you a better understanding of what the available niches might be. One speaker specialised in translation for sustainability texts, another in French language TV research.
Several speakers bridged the gap between their degree and their future career by using their dissertation to focus on an area they were interested to work in. You can use your extracurricular work or creative ventures to focus on what you enjoy doing, and learn from that. Enthusiasm can make employers willing to give you the prep work to fill in any experience gaps. Remember to always frame your experience so that it’s directly relevant to the job you’re applying for.
5. Start Smaller
Securing a role at a massive corporation straight after university won’t be everyone’s destination, so it’s good to know that starting at a smaller company can actually give you more varied experience.
Often, you will end up getting involved with opportunities outside of your job role, as there are fewer employees to cover all of the organisation’s needs. Covering different aspects of the business means you can draw out and target this experience in future job applications. It’s good practice to mention your interest in trying out new things to your manager, as they will also want you to develop.
To crack into difficult sectors, some panellists advised reaching out to smaller, local businesses in your hometown and learning about small local initiatives. They also acknowledged the need for perseverance, as it may take some effort but eventually you will find a job that feels like the right one.
Before you go…
If you have seen a company you would like to find work experience with but they’re not advertising, see the Careers Service guide to speculative applications. If you need help considering which industries you’d enjoy working in, then take a look at the sector guide index and the upcoming events page for inspiration. There is also a very helpful resource on top tips for networking and using LinkedIn.
Enjoy the journey!