Category: Finding jobs

Windō’s mission to connect you with LGBTQ+inclusive employers

Posted on by Careers Service

Researching potential future employers is important to ensure their values align with yours, but where do you start?

Collage of a man in grayscale, superimposed over a blue and pink triangle.

We recently chatted with Ken Janssens, Co-Founder & Head of Social Impact at Windō, who are on a mission to connect you with LGBTQIA+ employers.

Windō is a free platform for students to easily access, digest and compare the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) progress and plans that companies are making to drive positive change across diversity, equality and inclusion, sustainability, and employee wellbeing.

The screen of a laptop, showing various brand logos on the user interface of windo.

We talked to Ken about researching LGBTQIA+ friendly workplaces using Windō’s LGBTQ+ Transparent value filter, which tracks over 500 major employers based on their diversity and inclusion efforts.

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Top tips for our Get Hired careers fair

Posted on by Careers Service
An employer talking to a student at a careers fair

Our Get Hired careers fair is happening on Wednesday 1 May, 12:30 pm to 4 pm, at Bristol Beacon

It’s a great opportunity to network with employers of all sizes across a variety of sectors, with lots of other activities going on on the day.

To find out more, and book your place, visit the event on mycareer.

If you are disabled, neurodivergent or have a long-term physical or mental health condition, we are here to make Get Hired as accessible as we can for you. Complete this form by Thursday 18 April and we can build a support package for you. Watch our Accessibility Arrangements at Careers Fairs video to learn about arrangements we can put in place to help you access the fair.

To help you make the most of the day, we have pulled together our top tips on how to prepare for the fair…

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Looking beyond the arts and sciences divide with interdisciplinary work

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Elena graduated from Bristol in 2022 with a degree in English Literature and is now a Communications Consultant at Bright Carbon.

We caught up with Elena about looking beyond the arts and sciences divide with interdisciplinary work.

“It can feel as though there‘s a massive gap between an arts career and a science career, and once you pick a side, you’re stranded there.

The popularity of Sylvia Plath’s fig tree analogy shows just how many people feel like the choices they make close off all other potential futures. I definitely felt this when I was choosing my degree.

There was a sense of finality – that this was my specialism and other routes were now closed. After a lot of back and forth and deliberation, I chose ‘arts’ and studied Art Foundation and then English Literature at University – and I thought that was the end of that for other subjects.

“But, once I started my job search, I realised pretty quickly that the door to other disciplines never really closes.”

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Being LGBTQIA+ in the workplace

Posted on by Careers Service

As part of LGBT+ History Month, the Careers Service hosted a panel event exploring what it’s like in the workplace for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The event connected current students with speakers from the LGBTQIA+ community who work in a variety of different sectors, allowing those who attended a chance to hear stories and advice, and ask questions.

Our panel included –

Photos of the panel. From left to right, Cassie, Jo, Mateusz, Yiran and Raeesa.
  • Cassie Agbehenu (she/her or they/them) – Director of Impact and Influence, Bristol Students’ Union
  • Dr Jo Hartland (they/them) – Senior Lecturer, Bristol Medical School
  • Mateusz Lipinski (he/him) – Business Analyst, Deloitte
  • Yiran Liu (she/her) – Audit Associate, Deloitte
  • Raeesa Rajmohamed (she/her) – Barrister, Academic Writer and Human Rights Implementation Centre Advisor

Here are their key tips for LGBTQIA+ people to thrive in the workplace.

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My SME Internship: James – The Strange Thoughts Group

Posted on by Careers Service
A photo of James, smiling to the camera, outside.

Hi, I’m James. 

I entered into the internship process in a bit of an unusual state; I’d withdrawn from my PGCE (History) course earlier the same year and was just coming out of that self-reflective headspace we all go through when we’ve made our latest “big choice”. 

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Science meets the arts in an IKEEP work placement

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Electrical and Electronic Engineering student Tirenioluwa Omigbodun recently took on the challenge of an IKEEP placement with independent arts venue The Bristol Improv Theatre (BIT).

She was part of a student team looking at external factors impacting the theatre so they can adapt and attract new audiences. 

 

Tirenioluwa Omigbodun posing for a selfie in front of the window overlooking Wills Memorial Building on a sunny day in Bristol.

Tirenioluwa, can you tell us about your team placement with Bristol Improv Theatre?

The placement with the Bristol Improv Theatre was on looking at their external environment. The theatre was preparing their 2023/25 business plan and needed a glimpse of the socio-economic environment. We researched their audience profiles, trends within the industry and how the BIT impacts its environment.  

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Indea: My BristolGrad Internship experience

Posted on by Careers Service

My internship with the Careers Service as the BristolGrad Careers Support Intern was a great opportunity to gain loads of skills with a super-supportive team behind me.

Picture of Indea. A young woman smiling as she stroked a large ginger cat
Indea and a furry friend

Let me set the scene: I was a wide-eyed Arts graduate, leaving university to enter the world of work in 2020 – in the middle of a pandemic. After months of rejections (or just being ghosted by employers), and a job I didn’t love, I spotted the chance to apply for the BristolGrad internship.

My role consisted of supporting the delivery of the BristolGrad project. You can find out more about how the Careers Service supports graduates on our website. Because we were focusing on supporting a varied cohort, my role was also varied. (more…)

Get Hired! After the fair.

Posted on by Careers Service

We welcomed over 1200 of you to Bristol Beacon for Get Hired! on Wednesday 4 May.

Watching you all network with employers and getting to give you face-to-face careers advice was a real treat; we are so happy to have in-person events back.

Attending Get Hired! is just the beginning though; It’s what you do after the fair that can maximise your chances of growing your network, finding a mentor, or securing a coveted graduate role. The employers at Get Hired! were blown away by the calibre of students attending, so it’s important to capitalise on your dazzling networking skills and keep that momentum going. (more…)

Tackling Gaps On Your CV

Posted on by Careers Service

Worried your CV is looking a bit bare? Or wondering how to explain a period when you weren’t working or studying? We’ve collected some of our top tips on tackling gaps on your CV, so you can feel confident whatever you’re applying for.  

Filling gaps

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Get Hired! In-person careers fairs are BACK!

Posted on by Careers Service

Cressida, year 2 Law (MA), has been working as a Career Peer Support Assistant at the Careers Service since September 2021. She has worked predominantly with the Employer Engagement Team, which build relationships with employers and create networking and job hunting opportunities for you through careers fairs, skills sessions, and much more.  

“It’s been two long years of virtual events, but, kick off your slippers (let’s face it, they’ve seen better days), rummage through the depths of your wardrobe for something other than pyjama bottoms, and step into the light! Our flagship careers event is back; it’s in person, and with over 70 employers from a variety of sectors, it’s all designed for you to Get Hired!” (more…)