Rethinking networking: Finding your own way as a neurodivergent student or graduate

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Hi, I’m Caitlin – a recent graduate and Careers Support and Graduate Engagement Intern here at the Careers Service.

I’m also neurodivergent and, to be honest, the idea of ‘networking’ has always felt a bit confusing to me.

What actually is it? Who is your network? Is it something you do, or something you build? For many of us – especially neurodivergent students and graduates – the word can come with a lot of pressure.

It might bring to mind images of busy careers fairs, fast-paced conversations, or having to ‘perform’ confidence on demand. That version of networking doesn’t suit everyone, and it doesn’t have to.

Black and white illustration of three people sitting at a table. Two individuals are talking, with speech bubbles containing smiley faces, looking very happy. The person in the middle, who is also smiling, is wearing headphones and has a neurodivergent infinity badge on.
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Student voice: How do you fit career planning into your university life?

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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.  

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Last City Challenge of the year: Brave Bold Drama

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It was our final City Challenge event of the year at the Careers Service recently. We had the wonderful Brave Bold Drama join us with their challenge. 

City Challenges logo

City Challenges are a programme of events providing students with the opportunity to engage with charities and social enterprises.

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A Day in the Life: PLUS Award Students and Westonbirt Arboretum in Collaboration 

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In February 2025, 20 PLUS Award Students took part in an on-site skills session at Westonbirt Arboretum, where students worked together to support the team in developing their youth forum.

These PLUS students have had a direct impact on the route that Westonbirt will take to develop their youth forum, helping to ensure the student voice is embedded in this project from the outset.  

Below, hear from 2nd year Geography student, Ffion Jones, about their time at Westonbirt. 

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University of Bristol students take second prize in prestigious employability competition

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In March this year, five Economics and Business Studies students were delighted to take second prize in the prestigious Universities Business Challenge, competing against nearly 40 teams from universities across the country, as far north as St Andrews.

It was a tough slog to reach this position, with the team in question progressing through three rounds of business challenges, intricately designed to test their business strategy, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

Five teams from the University of Bristol entered the first round, and after completing online business simulations, four were invited to the semi-finals in London. This was an achievement in itself – no other university had as many teams represented at this stage.

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Graduate stories: my experience as a Hogan Lovells campus ambassador

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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.

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Reflecting on the Expansive Futures career series

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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:

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What I wish I’d known about career planning in my first year  

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Meet Rose, a current finalist and Career Ambassador at the Careers Service, studying Politics and International Relations.

Your university years fly by faster than you think – but the best part? You have those years to cultivate the career you want. Your first year is the prime opportunity to start exploring those options. Here are the tips I wish I had, to begin building those foundations in my first year. 

A picture Rose in front of Big Ben and the London Eye

Explore!  

It can be easy to get overwhelmed at the start of your university journey. Some have lots of exciting ideas about career prospects, other are not sure at all!

I found that a great place to start was mycareer’s guide on ‘Exploring Career Options’. This guide can help you gain more information on your interests. It is also a great option in first year, to ensure you keep all doors open. Now is the time to explore all the possibilities that come your way and make the most of them! 

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The story of Unique Connections

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Dr Beverley Samways has more than 20 years of professional and research experience in the care sector supporting young people with severe learning disabilities, sensory loss and autism. She is the founder-director of the social enterprise Unique Connections, which exists to improve the lives of individuals with learning disabilities who self-injure or are distressed.

Bev recently completed a Churchill Fellowship, spending five weeks in the US exploring trauma-informed approaches to supporting people with learning disabilities. Her report, focusing on how trauma-informed practice can help build resilience back into the UK care sector, can be found here.

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