Tips to Improve Your Employability While Studying

While studying, you may think you are doing great things for your employability. Which of course you are! However, there are plenty of other opportunities you can dive straight into, to ensure you are in the best position when entering the world of work. Here are a few of the best tips to improve your employability while at university, to ensure you stand out! 

Get a Part-Time Job 

Yes, it is obvious! However, many students never get a job during their studies. Even if it’s just a part-time job working five hours a week, this will add to your CV and boost your skills. 

If you are looking for a student-friendly position, then check out jobs on your university campus. Even if you find a position that isn’t related to your degree, it is still valuable work experience, and future employers will value your ability to work alongside studying. It will highlight your time management to juggle the two, as well as dedication, both attributes which employers look for. 

There is also the added bonus of some extra cash, which as a university student is highly appreciated!

Our best advice is to ensure you find a job that suits your timetable. Work out how many hours you can work before securing a position, as your degree does come first! If you are unable to commit to working hours during the term time, why not apply to summer internships?

Secure a Summer Internship 

A summer internship means ditching the beach and hanging out with your friends every day. However, it is the best way to learn new things. You will have the chance to work in a real-life business environment and follow professionals. Working full-time puts your academic skills into action, while at the same time demonstrates your commitment to working. Who knows, if you impress your employers then you could be offered a full-time graduate position! 

Volunteer! 

If you are unable to secure a paid position, then volunteering also does wonders to your job prospects. As you will be giving up your time for a good cause, this will not go unnoticed by future employers. Volunteering will boost your soft skills such as problem-solving and communication; it also lets you see if a career in the charity sector is right for you! Volunteering may also be more flexible meaning you can commit as little or as often as you want. 

Use Social Media 

We all use social media; however, there are many ways to use it in your job search. 

You may be using social media to update others about your life, this is what social media is made for after all, but future employers may also take a look! So, it all starts by ensuring your social media is suitable for future employers to search through.

As soon as you apply for a position, be prepared that employers may google your name. You do not want them to come across images or posts that you aren’t so proud of, so ensure your social media presence is suitable for everyone to look at. 

Networking through social media is a valuable way of searching for job vacancies.  LinkedIn is also a great social media to connect with recruiters and businesses, which you can turn into an online portfolio if you keep it up to date. There are also other opportunities, such as creating a blog website that can build a positive online presence. Remember to show this off in your CV

Get Involved! 

While at university or college, you will see many opportunities come up! Whether it’s joining a society or setting up an entrepreneurial opportunity, try to get involved. 

Joining a club or society lets you try new things that you may not have the opportunity to do otherwise. Joining a club not only keeps you busy and is something fun to do, but it also boosts your employability. Often in a society, you will need to work as a team and communicate to arrange meetings and events. These are skills which look great on your CV and job applications

So, when applying to jobs after university, you need to ensure that you stand out from your fellow classmates to be the best candidate. Hopefully, these tips will help you on your way to finding the perfect graduate position for you! 

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Author bio:

Written by Rebecca Hart, an Online Marketer at StudentJob UK. If you are looking for a job but not sure where to start, then check out StudentJob. Our application tips will help you create an effective CV, cover letter and help you smash interviews!

Categories: College Life   Tags: CV, application tips, part-time job, college students