If you’re currently a student, you’re likely thinking of your future career – it’s not all about partying and socialising, and we know you’re all working so hard. If you want to figure out some ways to get yourself ahead, then keep on reading…
Sign up to LinkedIn
Whether you’re scrolling TikTok or ranting on Twitter, so many of us spend a lot of time on social media. And we’re not saying you should delete those platforms and only stick to LinkedIn but if you haven’t added it into your social media rotation yet, then make sure you do. Described as a ‘business and employment-focused social media platform’, it is a great place to build connections in whichever industry you’re interested in being a part of. You can also learn valuable insights from people who are already practising your chosen career, as they might have some ideas of ways you can improve. It’s also somewhere that you can find graduate job listings after you’ve graduated!
Attend industry talks or showcases
If there are any upcoming talks, lectures, shows or events relating to your chosen career path, be sure to attend them. Hopefully you’ll see some free ones, but if you’re really serious about getting ahead then it’s definitely worth paying to attend these talks. Again it’s a chance to network, and access information that you might not get to know otherwise.
Look out for internships
While it might be competitive, always apply to internships you see that fit the bill for you and your future career! You’ve got nothing to lose by applying, and an internship can give you a massive head start. Even just a week of work experience (during your holidays, rather than term time) will give you something fantastic to put on your CV and also give you a proper insight into what you’ll be doing if you are able to go down this career path.
Write a relevant CV
Following on from this, create a relevant CV! It’s all well and good including part time jobs at sticky nightclubs or mentioning all those times you babysat for local families while in college, but in the world of grad jobs it’s a great idea to also include relevant information. This is where you can mention anything you’ve done during your time as a student – such as attending talks, getting work experience, writing blogs about the field and so on. You can look online to see examples of CVs from people who have been successful in the industry you’re looking to break into; some fields really value creative CVs, while others might want something very brief. It’s worth knowing!
If you’re looking ahead to the end of university and want to get ahead, hopefully these tips will help you feel more confident as you graduate and move into the world of work.
