Hi! I’m Abby, a 2nd year English Literature student here at York St John. I’m also currently doing my work placement with the Careers & Student Opportunities team. Through this placement I have learnt just how much the careers team have to offer for students. Here are some examples:
The Career Award
One of the most recent elements that has just been introduced is the Career Award. This is an award open to all current YSJ students [Editor’s note: remember as well it’s eligible for your HEAR].
The Career Award is a career planning tool made up of three elements: Kickstart, Engage and Take-off. These can be collected as Open Badges as you go through your degree. They are really easy to complete and are a great way of demonstrating to employers how committed to your career you are. In addition, it can be added onto your LinkedIn profile. It is also an excellent way of developing skills and resources that are relevant to both your time at university and after you graduate. Careers can also help with this as they can give feedback, via email or through drop ins, about CVs, cover letter and personal statements. This can help you to improve on the resources you have made, giving you a better chance of getting an interview. They can also help with interview skills and the Take-off badge helps you to develop within this area by giving you guidance as well as the opportunity to complete a mock interview with feedback.
These awards are self-directed so you can begin and complete them in your own time – just log in to Manage Your Future and make a start!
Workshops
The Careers & Student Opportunities team run regular workshops to help students at all stages of their career planning journey. They are often delivered by a member of the careers team, but sometimes external employers come into talk to students about elements of employability. For example, in February on the ‘Prepare for Work Day’, Sagar Wright came in to talk to students about ‘How to Wow at Interview’. This was a really interesting session as it showed students what prospective employers are looking for during an interview and what their tips are for success at interview. Sessions with external employers are also a good way for students to learn about graduate employers, what graduate schemes they offer and is a great way to demonstrate your engagement with their company.
Regular workshops include Kickstart Your CV, What’s Out There?, Preparing for Placements, Personal Branding and Interviews & Assessment Centres. If you want to sign up to one, visit the Events Calendar on the website.
Fairs
Another good way to learn more about a wide range of graduate employers, part time work for now and volunteering opportunties is by going to one of the fairs that are delivered to students on a regular basis.
These can seem a rather scary prospect, but it is a really good way to engage with employers and gain information about what their company has to offer you. You never know, you could find a company that you never knew anything about that seems to be the perfect fit for you. It is also a great way to grasp whether they are the right company for you. Also they are not just for those students who are getting towards the end of their degree and are thinking about graduate positions! Fairs on jobs and opportunities and part-time work can be equally as beneficial for students who are earlier on in their degree.
You can find out about the ones coming up on the Events Calendar.
…and more!
This is just a small sample of what the Careers and Student Opportunities team can offer. Look out as well for the Sodexo Student Aspiration funds, the Final Countdown week, Career Ambassador opportunities, the Summer Internship Programme and coming soon – the Enterprise Open Badge!
Abby McMurdo is a second year student at York St John