Making the most from your degree

Prepare for your future career

How to boost your employability whilst
at university

Make the most of your time at university and explore your career options while you are studying.

Gain different experiences to build up your network and make new friends: join a society, play for a sports team, volunteer for a community project, find part-time work, do a work placement, etc.

All of these will be extremely relevant for writing a personal statement, an application form or for attending an interview. They will also give you an insight into the world of work.

Here are some things you can do throughout the different stages of your degree to prepare for your next steps:

Student in careers centre

Year One

Getting ahead in your first year at university

It is never too early to think about your career!

It may seem a long way off, but your time at university will go quickly, and many graduate schemes open and close in the first term of your final year.

You can do a few things now to make a real difference to your applications later:

  • Find part-time work in Chichester or Bognor, or work on campus
  • Get a holiday job or do some volunteering
  • Update your CV with your degree and new skills
  • Create a LinkedIn profile to start connecting with others
  • Join societies and sports clubs, be a Course Rep or University Ambassador
  • Visit the Careers Team or book an appointment to talk to us.

Year Two

Reflect on your work so far

With a year behind you, it may be easier to make realistic plans for life after university and plan what to do now to help you get there.

Book an appointment with a Careers Consultant to chat through your options.

Don't leave your job hunting until after you’ve handed in your final year dissertation!

Start now to build your skills and experience to help your career.

Students in Careers Office

Final year

Put the skills you have learned to use as you take your first career steps

During these past years, you have built up your knowledge in your area of interest. Alongside this, you have gained many skills and experiences to progress into work or further training/study.

The Careers and Employability team is available to help you choose your options, create your CV, fill in an application form and decide on the next step to take.

  • Find out what graduates from your subject went on to do
  • Update your CV – include your dissertation if its relevant to your applications, provide examples to prove how you’ve developed your skills
  • Book a mock interview with our Careers Consultants to perfect your interview skills
  • Network – Talk with employers on campus and book your place at our Employ-ME events through our Careers and Jobs Board

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