Your Flying Start newsletter: championing social mobility, empowering you in your journey
Category: Exploring career options
Careers for change-makers: Tips for driving sustainable change, from those in the field
In February this year, the Life Sciences Sustainability Champions hosted a ‘Careers for Change-Makers’ event.
We heard from inspiring individuals on how they are striving to drive change across the life sciences sector – and learnt how to position ourselves in impactful roles in our own future careers.
Missed it? Here’s who attended and their tips for aspiring future change-makers.
(more…)Ghosting: an age-old problem or a new phenomenon?
How to deal with being “ignored” whilst job hunting
Imagine this scenario. You see a job advertised for a large company. It is advertised as an entry level job, and you are delighted that you meet all the criteria.
Actually, the more you look at it, the more you realise that you are the perfect candidate, and this is the job for you.
You clear your calendar and designate three whole days to writing the application. Dinner with Gran will have to wait.
You get it done. You get it proofread. You lap up the praise. It is perfect. You send it well in advance of the deadline. And you wait for your invite to interview.
And you wait. And you wait. You refresh your email a million times. You check that your phone is working. You google “How long does it take to be called to an interview?” You ask ChatGPT what it would do.
Not hearing back after submitting a job application is far from a new phenomenon, and many people will have tales similar to this one. However, frequency of occurrence doesn’t stop the pain of a ghosting (as many internet daters can contest to!). And it is not just initial applications – it can happen at every stage of the hiring process.
So, what do you do if you find yourself ghosted? Below are a few suggestions that might just help you out:
(more…)My experience taking part in the summer internship programme at EY
Could you benefit from the Business School Micro Internship programme?
Gain valuable experience and boost your employability skills as a Master’s student on this 3-week internship with the Business School.
The University of Bristol Business School offers Master’s students the chance
to take part in a 3-week authentic industry project designed to prepare you for the workplace through real business challenges.
The programme is running twice this year with two different groups of students. Our next intake is in June 2025 and you can express your interest here.
(more…)Student voice: How do you fit career planning into your university life?
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.
Graduate stories: my experience as a Hogan Lovells campus ambassador
Amrit is studying law at Bristol, and we recently caught up to hear about her experience working for Hogan Lovells and advice about applying for the campus ambassador opportunity.
Hi, I’m Amrit. The main role of a Hogan Lovells Campus Ambassador role is to act as the firm’s key representative on campus, promoting its opportunities. This involves organising and advertising events.
(more…)Reflecting on the Expansive Futures career series
Careers Service launches first-ever Expansive Futures series for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences students
The past teaching term saw a Careers Service first – a month-long multi-disciplinary career development series, Expansive Futures: Careers in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. When we sat down to design the series, we knew it’s going to be a good one, but the end result exceeded even our most optimistic expectations!
- 14 different panels were arranged, covering topics from film and TV to marketing, from public sector to heritage, from charity to law.
- 48 panellists, including alumni and representatives from local businesses, volunteered their time to share their insights.
- Over 650 of you engaged with the events, many joining us for more than one event.
We were delighted to get some really positive feedback, so read on to find out what some of our lovely students had to say:
(more…)A guide to our guides
Thinking about careers can easily slip to the bottom of the list when you’ve got other things on. The uncertainty of “what next” can be de-motivating and sometimes it can be simpler to just not think about it.
(more…)Overcoming career anxiety
It’s completely normal to feel anxious about career planning or future job prospects. We’re here to help!
We understand the importance of seeking support and know that everyone’s needs are different. We’re here to help you navigate a sometimes daunting path, and help you build confidence in your own decision-making.
Sometimes just talking through your worries can be useful but we can also recommend some practical tips and suggest some next steps, which can make all the difference.
First things first – feeling anxious at times is perfectly normal! For many students and graduates, there can be a feeling of being lost. If you are finding things hard at university, whether it’s with your studies, personal circumstances or anything else, you can book an appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser to work out a way forward. This is free and open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Below are some common concerns we encounter that can create career anxiety and helpful strategies to overcome them.
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