I was asked recently if
I wanted to write a guest blog article for the University of Kent Employability blog -
little did they know that I am Kent alumnus! Here is the article in which I
consider what I would tell the teenage me who rolled up in Canterbury many
moons ago
You’ve probably heard lots about
Employability. It has been a buzzword around universities for the last few
years, used in the context of helping students to be both ready for work and
desirable to graduate employers. There’s a huge range of ways in which your
careers service can support your employability these days, and if it is
anything like where I work, there will be dedicated workshops, focussed
employability weeks, the chance to participate in an employability
award and various other activities. In other words, it’s in your face and
the opportunity is readily available for you to engage, should you wish to do
so.
When I started out at UKC some 15 years
ago, I was not very career-minded. As a placement professional, I’m somewhat
ashamed to admit that the Twitter dialogue which led to this article being
written was the first meaningful exchange I’ve had with the University of Kent
Careers team. I didn’t seek out their help when looking for part-time jobs or
graduate roles. Back then I didn’t know that placements existed. I spent most
of my days keeping the Rutherford bar staff employed rather than participate in
the sort of opportunities attending university offers to students. If there was
a stereotypical undergraduate who could have done with careers advice, I was
that person.
So
if I could rewind the clock to talk with the 18 year old me, what would I be
saying?
Well firstly I’d be telling me to wise
up. University is serious business and not to be taken lightly. With tuition
fees now so much higher than they were in my day, there is little point in
applying if you aren’t going to take your studies seriously. Even if your first
year doesn’t count towards your final degree, discount it at your peril as it
will count with graduate and placement employers. That 40 per cent pass mark
achieved through minimal effort will not look good if you have aspirations for
securing graduate jobs. Start as you mean to carry on, knuckle down and have
some good grades to be moving on with.
Next,
be strategic when picking your clubs and societies.
With all due respect to the UKC Rock
Soc who I enjoyed both membership and committee involvement with in my time, in
hindsight there are other things I could have done with my time that would have
enhanced my CV and experiences beyond bar crawls and the occasional trip to
rock clubs in London. Involvement with RAG, CSR (Radio Station) and taking up
the offer to play Offensive Lineman for the American Football team I would have
both enjoyed and provided plenty of material for writing future applications.
(Before I get an influx of messages from Kent metallers, I’d have still joined
the Rock Soc!)
Without
doubt if I knew then what I know now, a placement would have been high up on my
agenda.
I
make a living now out of promoting placements and work experience to my
students, but it really isn’t a very difficult sell. Paid industry experience,
increased graduate prospects, higher starting salary. Never mind the fact that most graduate employers will
expect you to hold a certain amount of work experience. Placements are invaluable. I wish I had done one
when I was a student and I can’t encourage UKC students enough to pursue
internships or placements. If you haven’t already spoken to the Careers team,
don’t delay in doing so!
Use
social media to get ahead
While
the class of 2013 undoubtedly face a more competitive graduate market than the
one my peers and I had over a decade ago, one area that you do have in your
favour compared to the old school is the emergence of social media. Through
effective use of LinkedIn you have the opportunity to network with recruiters
in a way that my class could only have dreamed of. Savvy students can engage in
meaningful dialogue with companies through #PlacementChat or
keep up to date with the placement schemes of individual organisations by following
their Facebook page.
So in a nutshell, take advantage of the
opportunities that university presents to you, speak regularly to the Careers
team throughout your time at UKC and prioritise securing a placement. You will
not regret it.
