Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate
This blog is the first of two exploring how using the Careers Service can benefit you as a PhD researcher, each of which consists of an interview conducted via email. This first part was conducted with a History PhD who recently graduated from Bristol and secured a role in Professional Services at the University of Bristol.
Remember that all of our services are available to our PhD researchers, both whilst you are registered here and for up to 3 years after you graduate.
I started with The Air Agents in June as part of the University of Bristol’s internship scheme. 
It seemed like a great opportunity to get some work experience in a field I was actually interested in – a welcome change from the plethora of ads for graduate schemes in recruitment or finance.
I’d always wanted to stay in Bristol after I graduated, having grown up locally, and had trawled through Indeed for hours, searching for a job which would be rewarding. The internship was a bit of a gamble, but I figured I would end up with experience that could only aid my job hunt. (more…)
Working for a big corporate giant isn’t the only option when you graduate, starting your career in a small business can offer incredible experiences and teach you some invaluable life lessons.
Are you in love with your subject and wondering how you can find that passion in your future career?
Is your head swimming with ideas about what you think you’d be good at and what would be rewarding work?
Do you find yourself wondering what might give you the edge in application and selection processes?
University alumni can be a great source of support. Not only do they have a natural affinity and familiarity with Bristol they can be a ‘real life voice’ that will provide realistic and impartial advice.
You may be about to travel, volunteer, work or study abroad and you’ve probably thought about what you’ll gain on a personal level. But have you considered the employability gains too? The two things aren’t mutually exclusive! What you’ll learn from personal challenges will positively influence your ability to perform in the workplace – enabling you to listen, communicate, adapt and solve problems.
The University runs internship schemes that enable you to gain quality, paid work experience.
We work with SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) including charities, social enterprises, and start-ups, as well as larger organisations across the UK.
There are many reasons why you might want to do an internship: (more…)
What advice would your future self have for you? With their benefit of experience and hindsight, would you listen to them? We’d like to think so!
Of course, we obviously can’t bring your actual benefit of hindsight to you, but we can do the next best thing. Throughout the year there are several events that bring back alumni to share their career stories with current students – so maybe you can benefit from their hindsight? (more…)
Iona describes her experience of the SME Internship Schemes during her final year at the University of Bristol. If you’re inspired by her story, you can find out more about the schemes and how to get involved here. 
Hi, I’m Iona. I graduated with a degree in Cellular and Molecular Medicine in July, and from March to June interned as an Assistant Editor at the leading events website in the city – 365bristol.com – through the Santander scheme. (more…)
We caught up with Lucy Downer, Final Year English BA Undergraduate, about her experiences of having a mentor with the Bristol Mentors programme.
Starting out as a third-year student I felt incredibly daunted by the prospect of life post-graduation. Being part of the Bristol Mentors programme this year has given me invaluable experience within an industry I am considering entering after graduation. (more…)
