// Latest Posts

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 …

Five Dos and Don’ts of a Christmas break

By Dale Claridge, chemistry graduate The first semester of university can be pretty hectic. Whether you’re bogged down with essays and lab reports, or you’ve finally found a spare moment to start preparing for January exams, graduation can seem like more of a distant fantasy than an inevitability. However, anyone with friends who have completed …

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 …

What if I don’t want to be an investment banker?

By Alex Owusu, Employability Officer Are you an economics or business student? Have you come to the conclusion that investment banking just isn’t for you? So what do you do now? With so many career options available, it’s important to remember that just because a particular role or sector is a popular choice for your …

How to research a career or job (and what it would involve)

By Alex Owusu, Employability Officer Trying to think of the career or profession that would be right for you can often feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. With countless numbers of jobs and industries to choose from, it can easily feel overwhelming – where do you possibly start? With research! Research …

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 …

Applying for Vacation Schemes – What Worked for Me

By Ella Rees, law student When you first sit down with the prospect of writing multiple applications ahead, the process of applying for vacation schemes can seem overwhelming. I was lucky that I knew from when I started university that I wanted to pursue a career in commercial law. Despite this, I hadn’t had much luck with …

My Day at an Assessment Centre

By Katherine Rowe, BA History Over my time at university, it became clear to me that I wished to pursue a career in either the public or the charity sector. This meant that I started looking at graduate schemes in the summer of my second year.  When I came across the Local Government Association’s National …

5 Signs Of A Positive Organisational Culture

By Abra Miller, Freelance SEO and Content Consultant, and alumna A job can offer the best salary, interesting and varied work, and a generous selection of benefits. But if you don’t gel with the organisational culture, even a job that looks perfect on paper can be a nightmare.  What do we mean by organisational culture? It’s the social and …

There’s More to a PhD than Studying

By Rowland Seymour, PhD Mathematical Sciences I chose to do a PhD because I enjoy doing research, but I didn’t realise the other skills I would develop along the way. Doing a PhD has helped me become a better public speaker, be more creative in my thinking and most of all, be more confident about …