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:
This month we had Bristol City of Sanctuary on campus to host a City Challenge with us.
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.
Chambers of Commerce are membership organisations which businesses can join to access services to help them grow and play a part in their local business community.
They exist around the world at the local, regional and national level. Bristol Chamber of Commerce is run by Business West.
You can easily find Chambers for your nearest home town or city by searching online.
Members come from a wide range of sectors; financial services, the legal sector, engineering, education, manufacturing, marketing, media, property, and many more.
Whilst Chambers of Commerce exist to help their business members, not students or graduates directly, here’s how you can use them to dramatically increase your job or work experience prospects:
1.Access up-to-date sector information
Chambers typically run committees or forums dedicated to different sectors and regularly publish reports or blog posts. You can find a wealth of detail about sectors you’re interested in, wherever you wish to work in the world. Example reports include Detroit’s automotive industry. Subscribe to Chamber newsletters and social media accounts to keep informed on the latest developments.
2. Develop useful relationships
Chamber networking events present an excellent way to make professional connections. You can attend many of these as a non-member, and they are often free or low cost. Look for events aimed at students or young professionals, or which are more informal rather than those aimed exclusively at business development. If in doubt about whether you would be welcome, contact the Chamber to ask. Although independent of Bristol Chamber, Bristol Young Professionals offer another way to meet people in the city and they are happy for professionally-minded students to attend their events.
3. Find jobs and internships
Many Chambers advertise positions suitable for students and graduates, either within the Chamber itself or with their members. You can also access the “hidden job market” by approaching members speculatively, ideally having first built a relationship with people working for your target employers. See our sample cover letters and advice on making speculative applications.
TOP TIP for international students or anyone wanting to work abroad
Are you interested in hearing from professionals who have built interesting and fulfilling careers in arts, humanities and social sciences?
Do you want to know how the arts, humanities, and social sciences develop crucial skills that allow you to thrive in the modern world?
If so, the Expansive Futures series is just what you need!
What is the Expansive Futures series?
The series takes place between 11 February and 18 March and consists of 14 events to help you explore the career options available to you with a degree in arts, humanities and social sciences.
These events will give you an opportunity to hear from expert professionals on career opportunities and pathways in particular fields of work. No matter what year you are in or how much you thought about your next steps, the Expansive Futures series will have something for you.
Several exciting networking events are coming up within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and the Faculty of Science and Engineering – see mycareer events to book on.
These will allow you to network with professionals working in industries linked to your degrees.
However, some words will always strike fear into hearts – and ‘networking’ is one of them. Speaking to professional people you’ve never met before can be intimidating – particularly with lots of other students and staff around.
So, what is networking, why do we do it, and how can you make the most of it?
Networking can be daunting, especially for those who have not had much experience with it before.
Studies show that first-generation students often have smaller, less diverse social networks, which can limit their access to networking opportunities and reduce their confidence in these settings.
However, building a network is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Here are five practical tips to help you get started:
During the current academic year, the Careers Service at the University of Bristol are running a new series of events: Small Business, Big Opportunity (SBBO).
This series will feature panels, employer presentations and events designed to help you explore the unique opportunities that working for a smaller business can offer.
Here are 5 reasons working for a small and medium size enterprise (SME) could be the best fit for you:
The UK creative industry, valued at over £124 billion, is a sector renowned worldwide for its innovation and talent.
As a student, you may find it a little daunting due to its competitiveness and unclear entry routes. If you’re among the 42% (according to a new study by Ravensbourne University) who believe a creative career isn’t realistic, here are six ways to break in.
With just one week to go, Bristol Mentors is still open for applications for home UK students returning for study in 2024/25.
Bristol Mentors provides successful student applicants with an alumni mentor working in the sector/industry they are aiming to break into.
Mentorship can be an enriching experience and our student mentees are always happy to tell us more about the range of benefits they have gained whilst on the programme.
