From Student Consultant to Team Leader: My journey with 180 Degrees Consulting 

Posted on by Careers Service

Ever felt stuck in career limbo? Like you should be doing something to boost your CV, but you’re not sure what? That was me in first year.

I’m Youssef, a University of Bristol student and former Team Leader with 180 Degrees Consulting Bristol. Here’s my journey from Student Consultant to Team Leader.

I was doing well academically, but lectures weren’t giving me the full picture of working life. As someone keen to learn early on, I was always looking for opportunities to apply what I was studying.

Then I discovered 180 Degrees Consulting Bristol, and it changed everything.

What is 180 Degrees Consulting?

180 Degrees Consulting is a student-run consultancy working with charities and social enterprises for free. Students get real consulting experience, and worthy causes get professional-level strategic advice they might not otherwise afford.

My Peer Mentor mentioned it during one of our catch-ups, thinking it might suit me given how eager I was for real-world experience. The best opportunities often come through conversations with people who know you well; exactly why I’d recommend the Peer Mentoring scheme.

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Don’t forget your ‘soft skills’ on your CV

Posted on by jenny.baxter

Hi, I’m Maisie, a Senior Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants. Fire engineering is a discipline within the built environment – we work with clients, architects, engineers and consultants to bring buildings to life. 

A photo of Maisie standing outside smiling,

I was just starting my final year of an Integrated Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol when I realised I needed to decide what I wanted to do next – and honestly I had no idea. I knew what I didn’t like, but wasn’t sure what I did like! I knew I liked talking to people and engaging with real world projects so I started looking at consultancy, found fire engineering by accident and it’s been the best career for me. I love my role and am so glad I ended up here, but looking back I wish I’d had a little confidence in my ‘soft skills’. 

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City Challenge with Aid Box Community

Posted on by Careers Service

City Challenges are a programme of events providing students with the opportunity to engage with charities and social enterprises and support worthwhile organisations, whilst developing skills to improve employability.   

Aid Box Community

We were delighted to welcome Aid Box Community to work with students on the latest City Challenge. 

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Don’t let deadlines derail you: career planning strategies for Teaching Block 1

Posted on by Careers Service
Calendar

At this time of year, we hear a lot about employers on campus, graduate schemes and summer internships closing imminently.

You may also feel that other students on your course seem more “on it”. This can be overwhelming.

The first thing to remember is that everyone’s career journey is different and we are here to help with yours, no matter where you are starting from.

Here’s our advice about making sense of your career in the busy Autumn graduate employer recruitment season:

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Don’t miss out: your final chance to join a BSA Intro Talk this term 

Posted on by Careers Service

The Bristol Skills Accelerator (BSA) programme is designed to help students develop the workplace skills employers are looking for. Through four flexible online modules covering topics such as innovation, business models and leadership, you’ll build practical knowledge at your own pace, from campus or home. 

Once you’ve completed the training, you’ll have the chance to apply what you’ve learned through a project placement with a real business or charity. Working in a small interdisciplinary team, you’ll spend around 70 hours across four weeks tackling real-world challenges, gaining valuable experience, and making a meaningful impact.

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The SME Internship Scheme: what you have to offer an SME

Posted on by jenny.baxter

If you’re looking for a paid internship, sourcing your own can be a great way to find an opportunity in a sector that you’re really interested in.

The SME Internship Scheme  offers funding to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them employ you for a paid internship of at least 140 hours.

You can participate in the scheme by applying to our advertised opportunities on mycareer.

You can also approach organisations yourself to see if they would like to employ you by applying for the scheme.

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Ready to Explore Your Career? Have we got the solution for you!

Posted on by Careers Service

Thinking about what you want to do after you graduate can be daunting. So we’ve designed a new and exciting interactive course called ‘Explore Your Career‘, to take the stress out of it.

So we enlisted the help of Charlotte O’Brien, a student Careers Ambassador, to put our new course through its paces.

Charlotte smiling at the camera
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Hear from the employer: work experience with a purpose – interning at Not Impossible

Posted on by Careers Service

Hi, I’m Emma. If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for work experience.

 

A photo of Emma on campus smiling in her Not Impossible uniform.

And guess what? You’re in the right place. We’re Not Impossible – a work experience matching platform helping 16 – 25 year olds from less-advantaged backgrounds find work that matters to them.

We pair young people with employees who share passions and personality for what we call a ‘microplacement’ – a personalised 1-hour to 1-day experience that builds connections, confidence and clarity about your future.

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‘This is what made the difference’: alumni share how they overcame barriers to secure a graduate job

Posted on by Careers Service

It’s no secret that the graduate job search can be tough. Whether you’re applying to competitive graduate schemes or direct-entry roles, setbacks are common.

You aren’t alone though – most graduates face barriers when starting their careers, many of which are outside your control.  

However, what you can control is how you respond to these setbacks. With the right mindset and tactics, you can overcome these barriers and help you move closer to the role you want. 

This blog features a collection of alumni case studies highlighting ‘what made the difference’ in overcoming barriers in their career journeys. If you’re feeling stuck or unmotivated, read on for practical advice and inspiration for your own job search. 

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The Natural History Consortium runs a City Challenge event

Posted on by jenny.baxter

This month we had The Natural History Consortium on campus to run a City Challenge with us.   

Two women from The Natural History Consortium presenting the challenge to a group of students sitting in the Careers Service.

City Challenges are a programme of events providing students with the opportunity to engage with charities and social enterprises and support worthwhile organisations, whilst developing skills to improve employability.  

By taking part in a City Challenge students gain experience in group working, problem solving, public speaking and presentation, innovative thinking, and community engagement.   

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