// Archives

Talking to the right people is a career ‘must do’

By Joel Kaziro, medicine graduate  Having been a teacher for the last five years, I walked into Medical School as a mature student. I figured that at the end of my four-year stint, I’d be a doctor. What I failed to realise was ‘being a doctor’ was not enough; they come in many different shapes and sizes and …

The rise of perfectionism

By Joanne Workman, Employability Education Projects Officer A student asked me recently if I thought ‘perfectionism’ was a good response to the interview question, ‘what’s your biggest weakness?’ This really got me thinking about the perceived value of ‘being a perfectionist’, and how this might impact on careers and employability. Particularly in light of recent …

On a professional course? Tips on self-development, building your portfolio and decision making

By Fady Anis, medicine graduate and junior doctor on the Academic Foundation Programme At the beginning of Medical School, I was fairly adamant that I wanted a career in one of the surgical specialties. My experience and understanding of what it meant to be a surgeon was purely based on the few weeks’ work placement …

5 Job Hunting Tips For Graduates With A Disability

By Christian Jameson-Warren, Employability Education Projects Officer   1. Be clear about the possible implications of your disability in the workplace Managing a disability or health condition in employment may require thinking about strengths and challenges in a different way to at university. Employers have a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments so that a …

‘Oh You’ve Just Started University? What Do You Want To Do When You Graduate?’

By Jennifer Balloch, Employability Officer Picture this. You’re in your first year and you’re already getting questions about what you want to do when you graduate. How do you respond? Have you thought about it? Should you be thinking about it this early? Is anyone else thinking about what they want to do? Enter, the …

There’s More Than One Way to Get A Graduate Job

By Shelley Ashenden, Senior Careers Adviser It’s that time of year when there’s an energy and buzz around campus with many employers attending our careers fairs and promoting their graduate opportunities through recruitment presentations. However, it is worth remembering that although graduate schemes are often the most visible option to students, they only account for …

Don’t Be Scared To Speak About Salary

By Jennifer Balloch, Employability Officer  What do you think when a job advert doesn’t specify a salary and instead states, ‘negotiable’? Does it strike fear, or do you take it in your stride? How would you tackle this vague question? In some instances, negotiating will be expected, especially if the job advert doesn’t state a salary …

Five Things A Mentor Can Do That Google Can’t

By Katie Watson, BA History student blogger Why do you even need a career mentor when you can just Google everything you need to know? With the internet we have so much access to knowledge however most of us still feel like we need some guidance on our career paths. That is why we need …

Placements – Ready, Steady, Go

By Caroline Nolan, Employability Officer You are about to start your penultimate year of study. You may already have a Placement Year as part of your course or… you hear the term ‘placement’ mentioned by one of your friends. But what is the value of a placement? Why should you apply? What will you gain …

Career Mentoring – Connect To A World Of Expertise

Career Mentoring offers you the opportunity to be supported with your career goals by a member of our alumni community, through one-to-one support and advice. You can gain insight into the sector you wish to enter, develop interpersonal and networking skills, reflect on your experience and knowledge, and feel inspired to take your next steps. …