How to improve your employability while you’re at university
Kshitij Bhoumik is Lecturer in Marketing at Leeds University Business School. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing and has five years of work experience in the sales and marketing of dairy products. In this blog Kshitij shares his best tips on improving your employability.
Finding a job is something most of us needs to do as a first step after graduation. Getting a first job tends to be challenging, therefore it’s worth to think about your career goals and employability as early as possible. In this blog, I will share with you my tips on what you can do, to give yourself a head start on the job market.
1. What are your long-term professional goals?
It is important to consider your long-term goals while you are still at the university. This gives you time and resources to consider different career paths and select the one that you truly want to pursue. This might be easier said than done because planning for the far future is not natural, especially in a fast-moving world in which preferences and choices are shaped as we go. But having an overall vision of what you want to achieve could help you set the pace and make the right choices as you hunt for your dream job.
Remember, if you are not clear about what you want to achieve long term, you can always use the University’s resources. Talk to people in Careers Centre, and discuss with family and friends. Clarity toward your professional goals can help you feel relaxed and improve your subsequent decision making.
2. Look for current jobs in the market.
While you may not yet be in the job market, it is never too early to look for available jobs in the areas of your interest. This should give you a good idea of what to expect. It can help you understand the responsibilities of the position you’re interested in. This information should be used to make decisions such as what specific courses, electives or any relevant certifications to consider in order to increase your chance of getting your dream job. For instance, if you are considering a career in digital marketing, besides taking related courses at university, you can get a digital marketing certification or attend digital marketing conferences to build connections with people of similar interests.
3. Fill the gaps in knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Strong candidates generally show excellent domain knowledge and practical skills to apply that knowledge in a new environment. You can work on improving these attributes while you are at the university. Start by identifying the gaps in your knowledge and skill sets. Formative and summative feedback received in the course is usually a good indicator of these gaps. Also, remember that your quest for knowledge should be driven by your internal motivation, which means you should always be ready to go the extra mile to learn. Look out for any workshops, volunteering, opportunities or internships that are relevant to your field to build on your skills.
4. Make the most of your time at Uni.
Time at university is often considered one of the most rewarding experiences. University provides an opportunity to grow at personal, social, and professional levels. Specifically, the university provides a unique blend of learning opportunities as you are surrounded by people with similar professional aspirations. You also have access to library resources and databases to do your research about possible careers. Moreover, you have an opportunity to interact with experts in your field. Finally, you have access to student career services that can help with professional and personal development. Overall, your time at university can provide a solid background for your professional future.
There are many different ways to boost your employability while you’re at the university. If you think about it early enough, you’ll graduate with a full CV and multiple job offers!
