Tag: Career planning

Are you considering a PhD?

Posted on by Careers Service

With most PhDs spanning 3 to 4 years, it is not a decision to take lightly.

For some students, their passion for research and a specific academic discipline is such that a PhD is an obvious choice as part of their career planning, however, for others it is just one possible option, prompting further questions.

Having an insight into what life is like as a post-graduate researcher is a crucial first step. Without any doubt, you will need to love learning, have a hunger for research, and be a self-starter happy to work for long periods independently. Advice from vitae.ac.uk is to be ‘really clear on your motivations for doing a doctorate, and that it [will be] a positive career step.’

Kayleigh Crouch is a Career Peer Support Adviser with the Careers Service, currently a PGR at the University of Bristol, and has shared her insights on what it’s like to be a doctoral researcher here:

(more…)

How to get into Finance: Top Tips

Posted on by Careers Service

Finance careers include key areas of banking, financial accounting, financial planning, insurance, investments, pensions, real estate, sustainability and fintech.  You could find yourself in a multinational corporation, a small or medium sized business or enterprise (SME), or even a microbusiness or start-up enterprise.

Some recent University of Bristol graduates have gone into graduate roles in this sector as Financial Analysts, Tax Associates, Financial Planners, Risk Analysts, Financial Consultants and Investment Bankers, to name a few.

As a taster, here we draw together some top tips from our careers panel event on ‘How to get into Finance’ for Social Science and Law students on 25 October 2022. (more…)

Laura Izquierdo: from Bristol graduate to Watson Farley & Williams Trainee Solicitor.

Posted on by Careers Service
A picture of Laura Izquierdo

Laura Izquierdo is a 2014 Bristol graduate who studied Law at Bristol, she is now a trainee solicitor at Watson Farley & Williams.

We caught up with her to hear about her career journey so far and top tips she has for students considering a career in law.

(more…)

Top tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn

Posted on by Careers Service

After our Employer Showcase, you might be thinking about how to build on the connections you made with potential employers.

 

We’re here to show you everything you need to know to get the most out of LinkedIn and start making valuable industry connections.

Photo of a tablet showing a page about LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media site for professionals where you can network with others in your sector, keep up to date with industry news, and host a kind of online CV that showcases all your best work, achievements and experience. However, to really benefit from the site it’s best to go above and beyond, and actively use it to seek out opportunities and connections.

With that in mind, here are four tips on how to make the most of LinkedIn.

(more…)

Your ultimate guide to careers fairs

Posted on by Careers Service

It’s here! The  Employer Showcase, our Autumn careers fair, takes place this week on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October, from 12:30 pm to 4 pm, at Bristol Beacon.

Whether you’ve just started university or you’re gearing up for graduation, the Employer Showcase will have something for you.

It’s worth taking advantage of these opportunities whilst they’re readily available to you, even if you have no idea what you’re planning on doing after your studies. Have a snoop and see what appeals to you. If you know exactly what you want to do: great! Come along and network with employers from a whole range of industries.

(more…)

My SME Internship: Nathan – Purplefish

Posted on by Careers Service

Nathan is a Politics and International Relations graduate who worked as a Social Media intern at Purplefish as part of the SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Internship Scheme.

A photo of Nathan, smiling.

“Hi, I’m Nathan and I was recently given the opportunity to spend a month as a PR and Social Media Intern at Purplefish, an award-winning, Bristol-based PR and communications firm. Admittedly, I held preconceived notions that an internship would be a relatively uninspired experience that would be undertaken solely for the CV boosting prospects. However, in reality, I couldn’t be further from the truth. 

(more…)

Graduate stories: from Bristol graduate to AlphaSights Capital Marketing Manager

Posted on by Careers Service

The  Employer Showcase is our biggest employer event of the year.

A picture of the Alphasights stand at last years careers fair. A man in a suit talks to two students
AlphaSights, one of this years sponsors,  at Get Hired, our 2021-22 in-person careers fair

Across two days you will have the chance to meet a wide variety of employers and talk to them about available opportunities from graduate roles and internships to work experience.

Join us on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October, from 12:30 pm to 4 pm, at Bristol Beacon.

Head to mycareer to book your place and start planning who you want to meet.

 

Huge thanks to our sponsors this year: OC&C Strategy Consultants, Frazer Nash, AlphaSights, Datamine, Delaware and Baker Hughes.

Lucy Dean, Bristol graduate and current AlphaSight Capital Marketing manager, talked to us about her time at Bristol, and life in her current role.

(more…)

Graduate stories: From Bristol graduate to OC&C Strategy Consultant

Posted on by Careers Service

Are you ready to meet some employers? Our 2-day careers fair, the  Employer Showcase, is taking place on Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October, from 12:30 pm to 4 pm, at Bristol Beacon.

A photograph of a busy Bristol Beacon
A busy Bristol Beacon at our last careers fair, Get Hired

 

This is a great opportunity to network with employers from a variety of sectors, and see what opportunities are available from graduate roles and internships to work experience.

Our employers range from international organisations to small and medium enterprises and there will be different employers attending each day. Check out mycareer to book your place and start planning who you want to meet.

Our sponsors this year are OC&C Strategy Consultants, Frazer Nash, AlphaSights, Datamine, Delaware and Baker Hughes. (more…)

What is the Ideation fund and why should you apply?

Posted on by Careers Service

The Ideation fund is a 7-week experimental learning programme, (running between the 2 November- 14 December), which provides applicants with specialist training, support and funding for founders who want to explore and test out an early-stage start-up idea. This programme is sponsored by The Bristol Grid.

(more…)

Teach First case study

Posted on by Careers Service

Tim, graduated in 2020

I applied to Teach First in my second year at Bristol. I applied because I am passionate about creating an education system which works for everyone. This encouraged me to teach science, because science teachers are in such short supply.

Graduating during a lockdown was a strange experience. Training to teach during that lockdown was even more surreal.

(more…)