Claudia, a second year studying film and television, and one of our Career Ambassadors, reports back on her work talking to students about how to fit career planning into their lives.
It is no small feat to balance student life with the pressure of future planning. For lots of students, preparing for life after graduation can feel daunting, as they are often juggling many other commitments. It’s fair to say that university can be fun and fulfilling, but sometimes it can also be a hectic and overwhelming experience.
What we did
To better understand this, we went to you. Through street interviews and online surveys, our Career Ambassadors spoke to students. We wanted to understand what prevents them from planning for employment during university.
What we discovered was eye-opening. Some feel the pressure to have everything figured out, others don’t know where to start. Many feel there’s not enough time to plan for their career before finishing their course. Have a look at our Instagram reel to find out more!
The truth is, the idea of the “perfect student” is far from the reality most of us face, and it’s time to debunk this myth. No one’s journey is the same, and every student faces unique challenges!
What we learned
Almost 40% of students we spoke to took the approach that skills from their degree, work and extracurriculars would help in the future. A similar amount also said that they used work experience and internships to build their CVs.
But here’s the thing: three in ten students hadn’t logged into mycareer (our collection of resources, events, job opportunities and more), and two in ten hadn’t engaged with the Careers Service at all. And that’s okay! If you’re still figuring out how to make use of these resources, you’re not alone.
Almost half of students said they lack the time to focus on career planning and use available resources. A third-year Economics student shared, “It’s impossible to decide how to divide my time. Should I focus on the future or enjoy the present?” A second-year Anthropology student said, “It’s university during the week, work on weekends. It’s hard to find time for career planning, especially when the benefits aren’t immediate.”
We get it! Balancing your degree, a part-time job, and social life leaves little time for planning ahead. Many students mentioned tight deadlines and busy schedules as barriers. Almost one in four said mandatory career meetings or dedicated time to plan would help them.
So, what now?
Here are some tangible first steps from us at the Careers Service:
1) Check out our Career planning at your pace article
Sign in to mycareer and start checking out our articles. This one introduces how to incorporate career planning into your daily routine. It has a reading time of one and a half minutes.
2) Attend a useful (and fun!) event
Our online or in-person talks are great ways to learn more and engage with other students. Remember we’re here to help with the student journey, not just the destination. From CV writing to part-time jobs or finding opportunities abroad, there will be an event for you. Browse on our events page.
3) Complete the Bristol PLUS Award
If you are returning for another year of study next year, did you know that you can log work experience and extracurriculars, as part of the Bristol PLUS Award? The award enhances employability, strengthens your CV, and is highly valued by potential employers. What’s more, experiences completed this year can be used as evidence to make it easier to complete the award next year. Learn more on the Bristol PLUS Award guide and read about past winners on our PLUS Award – Careers Service Blog.
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to career planning, and that’s okay. Whether you’re just starting or already have a clear path, your journey is unique. We’re here to support you (and will do so for 3 years after you graduate).
Feel free to stop by the Careers Service at 5 Tyndall Avenue, or talk to us on Live Chat.
Whatever your career questions, we’re here (and friendly), so stop in for a chat!