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.

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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:

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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. 

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Overcoming career anxiety

It’s completely normal to feel anxious about career planning or future job prospects. We’re here to help!

Two students smiling and looking at worksheet

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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Get Hired careers fair sponsor: Third Bridge

Get Hired, our spring careers fair, is happening on Wednesday 19 March from 12:30 pm to 4 pm at Bristol Beacon. Third Bridge who are sponsoring this year’s fair have kindly provided a blog that is written by a Bristol alumni.

Hi I’m Amelia, when I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, I put my travel plans on hold and started looking for a graduate job in London with no real idea of what I wanted to do. I had studied Russian at Bristol, and loved the exposure to different cultures through the department and my year abroad in Tomsk, so all I knew was I wanted to work in a multicultural environment where I could meet people from different backgrounds.

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Ever wished you had a career mentor?

Bristol Mentors is now open for applications for home UK students returning for study in 2025/26.

We caught up with Elena (Politics and Sociology BSc), one of two Bristol Mentors Student Associates, about her experiences as a mentee on the programme.

Read more: Ever wished you had a career mentor?

“I was delighted to gain a place on Bristol Mentors last year. As the programme got closer, I knew I didn’t have a clear vision for how I wanted my future to look, and in truth I hoped someone would tell me exactly what I was supposed to pursue. The beauty of having a mentor is that whilst they can’t make those decisions for you, they can do a great deal to help you figure it out.

As I got to know my mentor, we discussed interests and avenues I was considering, allowing her to help me consider relevant opportunities and ideas. Throughout the year, I attended networking events and applied for summer programmes. If ever I felt I was out of my depth or imposter syndrome kicked in, I knew I had my mentor to guide me and cheer me on.

Elena is pictured in animated talks with two students at a mentoring event.

After my year as a student mentee, I had the chance to join the project team and help the running of the programme as a Student Associate. This gave me an even greater appreciation of mentoring as I was able to see so many other students benefitting and the work that goes on behind the scenes.

From where I am now, I see mentorship as a journey like a trail of falling dominos; one connection, one opportunity, one piece of guidance, can set off a chain reaction that keeps you moving towards your potential. To any fellow student reading about this opportunity I would highly recommend you make the time to apply.”


Bristol Mentors provides successful student applicants with an alumni mentor working in the professional sector they are aiming to break into.

Visit the Bristol Mentors webpage to check if you are eligible for a place on the programme and to get your application started.

If you have any questions or queries, contact the team on alumni-mentoring@bristol.ac.uk

The art of networking: making the most of the Get Hired careers fair

Curious about networking and discovering career paths you’ve never considered? Get Hired, our spring careers fair, is happening on Wednesday 19 March from 12:30 pm to 4 pm at Bristol Beacon.

How to make the most of Get Hired?

Hi, I’m Dirthaa Karunanidhi, a Careers Ambassador for almost two years, and I understand the excitement and uncertainty that comes with career planning.

I’ve heard students say, “I just leave careers fairs with a tote bag full of pens.” Job hunting can feel frustrating. But what if it didn’t have to be? 

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What’s your USP? Marketing yourself with applications

group of students laughing

If all products were the same, how would we choose between them?

A unique selling point – USP – is the attribute that makes a product different from and more attractive than its competitors.

Just as big brands need to hook buyers in with their USPs, job applicants need to find ways to catch the eye of recruiters. So, when applying for jobs, this means showing employers what makes you different, ensuring you stand out from the crowd.

Job descriptions and person specifications outline the skills and qualifications required of an ideal candidate, and in some cases additional ‘desirable’ qualities. However, the jobs market is a competitive place, and many applicants will meet the essential criteria, i.e. many people will be equally qualified to do the job.

This can make the shortlisting process quite difficult – between equally competent candidates, who should get the job? Therefore, as an applicant, you need to be able to offer something extra to differentiate yourself from the others and break that tie. You are aiming to tick all the essential boxes and offer additional benefits too!

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