Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate
We have a range of employers attending – from small to large, from Bristol and beyond. They are there because they want to recruit University of Bristol students and have immediate vacancies to start this summer. Make the most of this opportunity! Use the app to research employers in advance and target the ones most relevant to you. (more…)
It’s mid-February, and you may have noticed that the first daffodils are with us. You may not be aware however that alongside these early green shoots each year also comes our Careers Service Green Careers Week, from 18 to 24 February 2019.
This series of events is designed to help you find out about opportunities in “green” careers such as conservation and sustainability, get advice, and network with a number of different employers.
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It was recently announced that the UK’s top employers are planning on increasing their number of graduate jobs by 9.1% in 2019 – that’s over 1800 additional jobs compared to 2018.
Positive news for graduates? Absolutely. But do you ever find yourself wondering if your degree subject will hold you back against the competition, that you’d have been better off doing Medicine, or Computer Science?
Well, it’s time to challenge that thought. There’s mounting evidence that your Social Science degree stands you in good stead to make the most of the jobs of the future.
Here are three stand out reasons you should be feeling confident:
by Liberty O’Hagan
The morning of the Q&A panel event at the recent Public and Third Sector Week I was feeling very stressed with work. I had various seminars in the day, and lots of looming deadlines. Admittedly I was also worried the panel would tell me some generic career advice and that it would be better to stay and continue working at the library.
via giphy
After some um’s and ah’s, I went along to see what the panelists had to say.
A student perspective by Annie Elliott
Going into my second year of university, after a fairly idle first year, I was focused on getting my grades higher and taking my studies more seriously. I had never really considered going to a careers fair until I got a job with the Careers Service and I realised how many opportunities people that don’t attend are missing out on. When people asked me what I wanted to do after university my responses were always vague. Thinking about my career and the ‘real world’ was a daunting prospect and I wanted to put it on hold until I had finished my studies. However, attending the careers fair, I realised I had no reason to feel anxious about this topic but rather it was something I could get excited about.
1. New names, new venues, new opportunities
You may know them as careers fairs but this year our employer events are more than just fairs. We have talks, workshops, CV checks, competitions, LinkedIn photo booths and more, all taking place alongside the events. There is a wide range of events covering a variety of different sectors with employers large and small, so there’s something for everyone.
2. There’s an app for that
Yes, the app world has also infiltrated careers events. The Careers Fair Plus App, available on the app store and google play store, allows you to research in advance, filter and search to find employers most relevant to you and view an interactive floorplan.
3. Employers love Bristol students
Employers come to Bristol to promote their company to you and to recruit the best talent for their business. Make the most of this opportunity. You get to speak to the experts, get a feel for the work culture and inside tips that make your applications stand out. Who you know is often just as important as what you know in the world of work so it’s best to make the most of every opportunity to meet employers.
See what’s coming up on our website: www.bristol.ac.uk/careers/events/careers-fairs/
June 4th sees the launch of Before You Go Week, an intensive week of events, talks and individual appointments to help you make the most of the summer months – whether you are graduating, or coming back to the University in September.
We’d love to support as many of you as possible. Take our quiz to find out if you could benefit from coming in to see us before you go!
or those of you who haven’t decided on what you would like to do after you graduate – don’t worry, there’s still time!
Check out what we have on at the Spring Careers Fair 2 & 3 May from 12-3pm.
1. Careers Fair Plus App
Download the Careers Fair Plus App from the App Store or Google Play Store. Check out which employers are attending on each day and use the filters to narrow your search. Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts once you’ve visited via the feedback form.
2. Employers
This is your chance to meet a range of companies of different sizes, and sectors, and to find out about opportunities for future graduate jobs and internships. Also, employers are still hiring; use the filter on the Careers Fair app to find out who.
3. Global Opportunities
Are you an International Student looking to secure work in the UK or back home? We’re holding a short talk on how to secure a job or work experience in the UK. This will be followed up by employer films highlighting their recruitment across the globe. Click here to sign up.
Things that might surprise you about a career in Investment Banking
At our Investment Banking and Management Consultancy Evening this month, we held a Q&A with representatives from Macquarie, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and HSBC. We heard what it’s like, and what it takes, to work in this fast-paced and exciting sector. Read on for a few things that might surprise you about a career in investment banking
New pressures
After a challenging two years of A-levels, a laborious UCAS personal statement, and a nerve wracking exam results day, receiving offers from universities was tremendously exciting. Once my place was confirmed at the University of Bristol, I felt immense satisfaction knowing the next direction for my life. However, I did not expect that sense of achievement to be so short lived. Within my first few months of University I came across a news headline: “Work experience is key to graduate success”.
The sense of assurance from reaching University was replaced with questions. Where do we start with work experience? How are we supposed to find relevant work experience if we haven’t found a passion yet, or a desired career path? How will I succeed in interviews if I lack the enthusiasm to work in that specific sector? My first term quickly became daunting.
“Being a first year, I had plenty of time to dedicate to this process!”
Take control
This all changed for me around May 2016, when I completed the Bristol PLUS Award. Thinking about life after University as a first year, I started with the basics. I knew I was going to need a CV that had value. Looking at my CV of my life so far, I noticed that beyond summer work at a pub and my education, there was little substance. I knew then that I needed to develop this while at university, and I was soon to come across the Bristol PLUS Award. Reading quotes from other students stating that “The award leads to infinite possibilities for the future.” And “The plus is not merely an award, it’s a REward.” I thought I better get myself involved.
The first step was an introductory talk at the Careers Service which laid out the Award criteria. 50 hours of work experience, 4 workshops, an intensive skills activity, report and final workshop, achievable? Being a first year, I had plenty of time to dedicate to this process!
Work experience: I started working for a university bar a couple of evenings a week, and had completed 50 hours before I knew it. This gave me valuable experience as part of a team in a high pressure, busy environment. It also improved my time management and organisation skills, balancing my degree and part-time job.
Workshops: I attended mainly Careers Service workshops including an insightful event with the BBC on what skills they value in employable candidates. In addition I went to practical workshops on CVs and interview skills. The latter introduced me to the importance of body language and the impact it can make in an interview.
Intensive skills activity: I volunteered on open days, introducing the campus to prospective students. This honed many skills such as leadership, creativity and the ability to think on my feet. I had learned via the workshops that these were desirable skills to employers.
“The PLUS Award has changed my view on the world beyond university. It has made something that seemed so large and complex, seem much smaller and simpler.”
Transform and grow
The PLUS Award has changed my view on the world beyond university. It has made something that seemed so large and complex, seem much smaller and simpler. In my second year, I got an internship in the Careers Service. One of my projects was reconnecting with PLUS Award graduates, many of whom credit the PLUS Award as integral to their success beyond university. The best way to get ahead is by getting started, and the Bristol PLUS Award is an exceptional place to start.
By Finn Morgan, Geography BSc
The Bristol PLUS Award 2017-18 reopens on the 18 of September 2017. Read the website and book your place at an introductory talk for more information and to take part.