Advice

I don’t think I am alone when I hear my parents saying “..eat your greens they’ll make you grow big and strong!” Developing your employability skills is the same. You will not always see the immediate impact of attending a workshop, engaging in an activity, or joining a society. It is only through reflection that you begin to see how the activities you engage in help you to develop the skills and attributes employers value. It is also your engagement in these activities that highlight your strengths and areas for development. These activities may take you out of your comfort zone, but once there you will develop your own coping mechanisms. Imagine sky diving from a plane to show how you are willing to step out of your comfort zone or hosting a campus radio show to demonstrate your communication skills. You can socialise and build your skills at the same time!

The captain of a sports team demonstrates many of the skills and attributes needed to be an effective manager. Motivating your team, working together, having a positive attitude are all strong examples to be used when applying for future job opportunities. The ability to collaborate and work with others is a highly valued skill in the work place.

Get Involved at University!
Participating in the Students Union, volunteering, international internships, and work experience provide a wealth of opportunities for both personal and skills development. All of these experiences demonstrate to employers that you have the skills needed to perform the role. Students who focus purely on their academics often find that on graduation even with a first class honours, lack the ability to market their skills in the job market. If you have “eatenyour greens” throughout your degree you will graduate with not only your degree but a range of experiences that demonstrates your skills and attributes.

Brilliant Employability Skills helps students to translate their experiences, in order to identify skills directly transferable to the world of work.

Don’t Forget to Eat Your Greens!
by
Frances Trought
Author of Brilliant Employability Skills
Founder of Everything D&I

“A third of all graduate jobs go to students who have already worked for the organisation”

Regardless of how we want to see ourselves we are all products, selling our skills in the job market. Work experience is our way of demonstrating to future employers that “our product” has been tried and tested in the market place. Work experience has risen in importance and as such has become increasingly competitive. PwC saw 22,000 students apply for 960 work experience places2. Don’t despair as 90% of the top 100 Graduate Recruiters companies offer some form of work experience3. Companies value the opportunity to work with new talent and so are continually increasing ways to identify new talent for their businesses.

What opportunities exist? Companies provide various opportunities for students to find out more about their organisation:

Insight Days – Students gain an insight into the firm and speak with professionals to gain an insight to career options

Internships – Students undertake paid work experience for an average of 8 weeks

Placements – Students work full time for a company for between 10-12 months. This is often undertaken following the completion of the second year of study.

Everything D&I is building bridges between industry end education ensure students from diverse backgrounds are aware of and apply to opportunities.

1. “The Graduate Market Report 2016” The High Fliers Research Ltd
2. “Demand for Work Experience rises as students look to get a heads start in the job market”
https://www.pwc.co.uk/press-room/press-releases/demand-for-work-experience-rises-as-students-look-to-get-head-start-in-jobs-market-says-PwC.html?hootPostID=f836038671c0984866ee74cd8a5625ec
3. “The Graduate Market Report 2016” The High Fliers Research Ltd

Often students who perform well in their internships or placement year are offered a graduate role on completion of their degree. Can you imagine the relief of going into your final year with an offer of a graduate role already secured. As a result it’s important to spend time during your second year of study to ensure you secure an internship during your summer break.

Small and Medium enterprises also present another avenue to secure work experience. 99.3% of private sector businesses are classified as SMEs1. SMEs provide 60% of all private sector employment, so it is likely that when you graduate you will work for an SME. Or even start your own business.

Gaining work experience is no longer an option for students, as it is often the differentiating factor when applying for graduate roles. Those students who have undertaken work experience are often more work ready and this is demonstrated in their approach to work and the value that they can add to an organisation. EDI is aiming to not only create awareness of opportunities but also support students to secure opportunities.

Gain the experience that can help you to stand out in the graduate job market!

4. National Federation of Self Employed and Small Business Limited: http://www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre/small-business-statistics Accessed