So you’ve decided to achieve your Bristol PLUS Award? Well done! This is a great experience that will set you up for your future as a graduate.
Student story: making the most of my first year
I’m Haseeb, I’m just about to start my third year as a law student at the University of Bristol. I also work part-time at the Careers Service as a Careers Ambassador. Below, I have highlighted some of the ways I made the most of my first year of university.
Get involved and develop skills
In your first-year of university, I would recommend embracing all the opportunities that are open to you, as any skills that you develop will help with your career. For example, I had a part-time supermarket assistant role. When applying to first-year schemes, this allowed me to evidence my communication skills and my ability to work well under pressure. In addition, any society involvement will not only enhance your university experience, but look great on your CV. Being part of a sports team shows that you are a team player, and all of these experiences highlight your ability to balance extra-curriculars with your university studies, evidencing the key time-management skill employers look for.
Explore your options
I’d recommend not limiting yourself to career options that you would assume your degree lends itself to. This is the time to explore! For example, I am a law student but I have explored the technology and insurance sectors. Taking part in a range of open-days or career-oriented society events will help you with narrowing down your options when applying to internships or graduate schemes as you will have a better idea of what it is you would or wouldn’t like to do. It will also help evidence why you are interested in a specific career, as you can mention what you enjoyed in your prior experiences, and how that has led you toward your current application. For example, I spoke about my experience working in sales and how that led me toward applying for legal internships.
Talk to people
This is the time to start networking, especially with graduates who were recently in your position as a student! They understand your situation and are usually very willing to help, so there is no need to stress about reaching out. This will help with exploring your career options by speaking to those who are currently working in the sector you are considering and completing the type of work you would do if you were on the scheme.
They may also be able to help with any future applications you submit, especially if it is to the same company, as they would have had to go through a similar application process.
Further support
- Don’t know where to start? Browse online career guides written by your Careers Service
- Ready to learn? Come along to an intro talk or workshop in term-time.
- Feeling stuck? Talk to us at the Careers Service.
Study abroad students: make the most of your time at Bristol
Bristol is an exciting, dynamic city with lots to do and explore.
If you’re in Bristol for a short study abroad programme, exploring the city and getting involved with the student community can feel like a huge task.
Your Flying Start newsletter: championing social mobility, empowering you in your journey
Do you receive Flying Start newsletters from the Careers Service? Read on to learn more about what Flying Start is and meet the team behind its creation.
(more…)From tending teeth to painting nails: A university student’s side hustle
Hear from fifth-year Dental student Roveena Raymond, on managing their side-hustle and degree.
(more…)Meet our 2025 New Enterprise Competition winners!
Last night we celebrated our brilliant New Enterprise (NEC) GROWTH stage finalists. We saw a highlight of some of the amazing businesses that we have supported this year in Basecamp Enterprise.
Back row (left to right): Kieren Sharma and Riku Green (Artificially Ever After), Abanoub Ghobrial (Fidelis AI), Mukund Srinivasa Raghavan (EarTide), Farjana Akter and Ankit Karmakar (Animalize.io). Front row (left to right): Daniel Virin (Cribster), Arik Shukhman and Holly Brown (pebbl), Sam Rapier (Exekias Games).
(more…)10 ways to avoid being tricked by a job scam
Using online recruitment agencies and websites is now the most common way that students and graduates find a job.
While most jobs that you see advertised online are real, fraudsters can make use of online advertisements to trick you into paying for something that doesn’t exist.
Scams come in many different forms, but the people who carry them out are always looking for new ways to make easy money. To detect a scam and avoid being tricked, here are 10 things to look out for:
Top Tips from International Alumni on Securing a Job in the UK
There’s nothing more encouraging than hearing from someone with a similar background who has successfully navigated the UK job market. We recently invited five international alumni from various sectors to share their experiences of securing graduate roles in the UK.
We were joined by Adil Shaikh from India, a Computer Vision Engineer at DeGould Ltd; Livia Iriawan from Indonesia, an Auditor at KPMG; Linlu Ye from China, the Equality, Liberation and Access Officer at Bristol SU; and Rose Sharon Chin from Malaysia. The event was a full house! If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, here are the key takeaways that might help you on your own journey:
Don’t underestimate the skills you have gained as an international student
Every international student has a unique story. Adapting to a new education system, adjusting to cultural differences, and navigating day-to-day life builds far more than academic knowledge. Our alumni reminded us that these experiences develop adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the teamwork and communication skills gained through societies, group projects, and part-time work.
Customise your CV
Every speaker emphasised the importance of a well-crafted, tailored CV. Especially from Rose, who has worked in HR, saying that if your CV isn’t tailored to the role, it’s unlikely to get through. Rather than sending out dozens of generic applications, put time into researching the role and company, and show clearly how your experience aligns with what they’re looking for. We also offer detailed CV guidance and 1:1 appointments with our advisors to help you stand out.
It’s okay not to have it all figured out
Not knowing your exact career path after graduation is completely normal. In fact, most of our alumni felt the same way. Trying out short-term experiences like internships, volunteering, or university programmes, such as City Challenge, Bristol Skills Accelerator, or working towards the PLUS Award, helped them explore options and gain clarity.
Rejections are part of the process
Every alum we heard from had their fair share of rejections. The key is to focus on what you can control: improving the quality of your applications, developing your skills, and staying proactive.
And remember, it’s a two-way street. Employers are not just assessing whether you’re right for them; you’re also figuring out if the job and company are right for you. So be humble, stay curious, and don’t let setbacks shake your confidence.
Landing a job isn’t easy, but with the right guidance and advice, the journey can feel a lot more manageable. If you’re interested in hearing more inspiring stories from our international alumni, keep an eye on upcoming events on mycareer. Just filter by ‘International’ under event type to find sessions specifically designed for international students.
- Read our tailored advice for international students and book onto our regular events.
- Use Student Circus to search for sponsored UK roles as well as graduate opportunities in many countries around the world
- Find more tailored advice as well as stories from international students and graduates on this blog, using the” International students” tag.
Volunteering with Bristol Women’s Voice on International Women’s Day
Volunteering doesn’t have to be a long term commitment, you can still have a positive impact with ad-hoc opportunities.
Hi, I’m Olivia, and I volunteered with Bristol Women’s Voice on International Women’s Day for their event at City Hall.
This experience allowed me to engage with like-minded women in my local community and contribute to a cause close to my heart; tackling gender-based inequality and violence.
Why I volunteered
I volunteered with Bristol Women’s Voice because I wanted to do something to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.
I also wanted to meaningfully contribute to the amazing work that local women are doing to unite women in Bristol by celebrating their achievements and offering support and information for those who need it
Bristol Women’s Voice was set up in 2013 to ‘listen and make heard the views and voices of women from across Bristol’s diverse communities, empowering them to influence decision-makers’.
My specific role
It was the responsibility of the volunteers to make sure that the event ran smoothly. Upon my arrival at City Hall I became a room steward, helping Bristol girls network set up their first mates event, which is like speed dating but for making new friends!
Next the room was needed for a body confidence dance class and so we had to prepare the room for that. At the same time it was our job to answer questions from members of the public and to make sure that everyone was safe and having a good time.
I also played to my unique strengths and offered to be a media volunteer. For this role I attended one of the panel events being hosted on the day.
I listened to a group of incredible female journalists and creatives, local to the area, talk about the challenges of being a woman in the media industry. They also offered advice for those aspiring to a creative career.
Afterwards, I wrote a blog summarising the panel for the Bristol Women’s Voice webpage.
How I became a volunteer
I signed up to become a volunteer on the SU’s Volunteering Hub which I heard about during Student Volunteering Week. The process was really simple and I only had to attend one online training session before the day. In total, I only had to give up about 7 hours of my time, which was easy to manage alongside my final year studies.
What I got out of volunteering
Now that I have volunteered, I feel like I have closer connections with my local community and feel encouraged to volunteer with Bristol Women’s Voice again.
I used MySkills to reflect on the experience and consider how the day might help me with my future career aspirations.
If you are considering signing up for a volunteering role, check out the SU Volunteering Hub for some incredible opportunities.
Another way to give back, that only takes a few hours, is the City Challenge Programme which allows you to support a local charity or social enterprise.
Overall, my experience as a volunteer for Bristol Women’s Voice was an extremely positive one, even though it was only over the course of a day. I hope this encourages you to think about the positive change you can make by giving up even a few hours of your time.
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.
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