WeAreWestminster » A guide to building your career as a student

A guide to building your career as a student

April 24, 2024
Employability and careers
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In today’s competitive job market, it’s crucial to equip yourself with the right skills and experience to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re someone looking to study for a degree with us or an existing student, this guide is for you.

Assess your skills and interests

The first step in enhancing your employability is understanding your strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests. Take some time to reflect on each of these sections. What are you passionate about? What do you enjoy doing? What skills are you really good at? Look at all your previous jobs or work experience. What were your strengths and weaknesses and what did you learn from these experiences? What are you not so good at, but you could look to improve? Ask for constructive feedback from close friends or family. Identifying these key aspects will help you narrow down your career options.

Develop your skills

Once you’ve identified your strengths, interests and areas of improvement it’s time to start developing and honing your skills. This could involve workshops, attending networking events or volunteering opportunities. Keep an open mind and be proactive in seeking out experiences that will help you grow both personally and professionally. Remember to be proactive and ask your mentors and academics for support and suggestions for events or workshops you should attend. Also check the university website regularly for updates.

Gain practical experience

In addition to building your skillset, gaining practical experience is crucial for enhancing your employability. Consider internships, part-time jobs, or freelance projects related to your field of interest. These experiences not only provide valuable hands-on experience but also allow you to network with professionals in your industry. Reach out to your university’s careers and employability service for more information.

Craft your personal brand

Think of yourself as a brand. How do you want people to feel when they meet you? Do you want to come across as a creative freelancer, a passionate artist or perhaps a professional looking for a corporate job? Having a strong personal brand is essential. Take the time to polish your CV, optimise your LinkedIn profile, and develop an online presence. Your personal brand should reflect your skills, experiences, and values, and set you apart from other candidates in the job market. Remember, instead of trying to fit in, use your personality to stand out.

Build your network

They say it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Networking plays a significant role in enhancing your employability. Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and be proactive in connecting with professionals. It might seem scary to reach out to someone at an event but see them as regular people looking for new connections. Building a strong LinkedIn profile and network can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable insights into your chosen field.

Bonus tip

If you really want to take things to the next level, treat this as a personal development project. You can create an excel document with different sections, goals and deadlines. Find an accountability buddy or share it with your mentor at your university so someone can hold you accountable on your goals!

At Westminster, our students have access to our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. They are committed to helping you to enhance your employability. Through workshops, events, internships and mentoring schemes, they provide valuable resources to guide you on your journey toward professional success.

About Westminster

As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy, with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. For more information about our courses, visit the University of Westminster website.