4 Ways to Improve Your Employability as a Student
For some students, life after university is a distant thought. For other students, the idea of finding a job after university is rather daunting.
One of the most common questions students ask career support staff at their universities is “how can I improve my employability?”.
Luckily, our partners at Enactus UK have a few tips to share…
Everyone knows that joining a student group can lead to new friendships and can boost your confidence. What fewer people realise is that the skills you develop through participating in extracurricular activities can better equip you in the world of work.
For example, regular participation in a sports team or student band develops skills like organisation, problem solving and teamwork.
In addition, taking on a position of extra responsibility within a society further develops your skills:
Presidents are the figureheads of any group, but should also demonstrate empathy for their members’ needs and decisive action within their committee.
Treasurers manage budgets, but they also need to have analytical skills and clear communication to ensure their group stays financially sustainable.
Social Secretaries may be the life and soul of events, but they also use creativity and time management to make activities a success.
Presidents are the figureheads of any group, but should also demonstrate empathy for their members’ needs and decisive action within their committee.
Treasurers manage budgets, but they also need to have analytical skills and clear communication to ensure their group stays financially sustainable.
Social Secretaries may be the life and soul of events, but they also use creativity and time management to make activities a success.
The list goes on...though perhaps not an immediate place to look for personal development, joining extra-curricular groups can provide a boost to your professional image as well as your personal one.
2. Apply for work experience and internship opportunities
Sometimes, learning from the people in your ideal job is the best way to understand an industry and whether it’s the best fit for you!
By talking to people from a certain organisation or, even better, getting first-hand experience, you can gain a realistic idea of how things happen and what is required in a specific job. There are plenty of ways to get your foot in the door.
3. Volunteer in your spare time
Giving back is good for the soul. Have a few hours to spare one week? Fancy making a more regular time commitment?
Speak to your students’ union, which will either work directly with volunteering projects in your local community or will know the people that do.
When you’re volunteering for a good cause, your talents are more likely to shine through.
This is no different with Enactus UK projects, which aim to improve the lives of local people whilst tackling the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, addressing topics like poverty, hunger and climate change.
Just like any other student group, Enactus UK projects encourage further development through leadership roles at all 65 universities in which it operates.
Another great benefit of volunteering is recognition. It’s rewarding to be able to help others but sometimes this is difficult to communicate on a CV or in an interview.
Lots of charities will send you a certificate of thanks to confirm and recognise the time you dedicated to their cause.
We can’t stress this enough: in whatever you do, it’s so important to network!
What does this actually mean? To put it simply: get to know people. The more people you talk to in a certain industry or career path, the better an understanding you will have for the journey you’re embarking on.
You also never know when knowing someone specific might help you further down the line.
Unsure how to approach this? Try one of these…
Attend industry and alumni insight events. University careers services often produce a whole calendar of events, as does the team at Enactus UK.
Start building your presence on a professional online network like LinkedIn. Your career prospects are just a connection and a friendly message away.
Follow national organisations online that focus on bringing students and industry experts together. Enactus UK frequently shares posts with partner representatives on LinkedIn.
We know that networking can seem daunting at first. It’s helpful to remember that everyone started somewhere; even your role model was once in your shoes. Whatever you do, try something that makes you happy and give it your all; it’s bound to lead somewhere.
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