WHY USE YOUR CAREERS SERVICE?

Rowena Forbes from The University of Manchester’s Careers & Employability Division explains how to make the most of your careers service.

Many students don’t think about using their university careers service until they’re just about to graduate - and some don’t even bother then! However, you may be surprised to find out what it can offer you now. You could be missing out on numerous opportunities to develop skills, form ambitions, boost your job prospects and have a lot of fun besides.

Considering today’s highly competitive graduate job market, your careers service should be an integral part of your time at university, even (especially!) if you have no idea what career you want. Many students don’t know half of what their university careers service can offer them, instead relying on assumptions regarding the limits of the resources available, and even regarding the types of students who can benefit from the service.

Many of today’s careers services offer more than a library of employer information, with innovative and tailored resources that enable you to develop your ‘employability’ skills and enhance your CVs throughout your time at university. Here are some of the things that you could be missing out on:

Part-time/ holiday jobs and work experience
Many companies advertise vacancies through university careers services, and not just for their graduate positions. You could find work to boost your bank balance while you’re studying, or source some useful opportunities to gain work experience.

As well as vacancies, many careers services offer dedicated advice and guidance on finding, securing and getting the most out of part-time jobs and work experience, covering everything from tips on approaching organisations to help with your CV, plus information on tax and National Insurance.

Volunteer work
Volunteering can boost your personal development, makes a positive difference to society and looks great on your CV. An ever-increasing number of employers are recognising the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and look for evidence of the right attitude and skills in potential graduate recruits.

Your careers service can help you find a variety of volunteer work, from part-time opportunities with local community groups to international placements that could form an exciting part of your summer holiday or gap year plans.

Career fairs
These are excellent opportunities to find out about a whole host of career options at once, by speaking directly to employers and finding out what they can offer you, as well as what you can do to improve your chances of employment with them. Even if your careers service doesn’t run these, it will have details of ones that you can attend across the country.

Presentations, workshops, courses and events
As well as career fairs, careers services organise a whole host of other programmes and events to help you find out about career options quickly and easily, meet and learn from employers, pick up tips on career development and job-hunting, develop important skills and make useful industry contacts. These range from employer presentations to practical workshops designed to help you develop skills such as management. Some careers services offer mentoring schemes that match you with someone working in your chosen career area, enabling you to find out what really goes on in your dream job and get a head start with inside tips and knowledge from an expert.

You may even be able to take a career management skills module. Run by an increasing number of university careers services, these make career development an integral part of your degree course, helping to provide real focus and motivation, as well as giving you the chance to develop practical skills that employers will value.

Help with CVs, application forms, covering letters and interviews
Whether for part-time work or a graduate position, the application process is the crucial first stage to employment. Get help and guidance with your CV, application forms and covering letters from your careers service to ensure you make the best first impression possible, with further tips to help you prepare for interview.

Many careers services provide mock interviews with useful feedback sessions that will help you prepare and boost your confidence for what is often the scariest stage of the job-hunting process. You can also get support and tips on what to expect at graduate assessment centres, plus access to the latest company and sector information to make sure you’re fully informed.

From self-assessment exercises for the career-clueless to networking opportunities for the career-focused, with tailored advice for both UK and international students, your university careers service has plenty to offer you throughout your degree. Don’t leave it too late! Pop by and find out how you could be improving your career prospects today.