How I got my job: Placement student at IBM Watson IoT

In this week’s blog post, Hannah, a Leeds University Geography student tells us about her role as a placement student at IBM, how she got the role and what skills and experiences have helped her application stand out. Hannah works in the Watson Internet of Things business unit – IBM Watson. The Internet of Things and number of connected devices is growing daily, so this is a particularly exciting internship opportunity in a developing sector.

Your careers questions answered #UoLCareerQs

We were at Freshers fair today and loved speaking to so many of you – at all stages of your studies! We thought it might be useful to answer some of the most common questions we were asked today on the blog, so here they are.

We will also tweet ongoing common questions and advice at #UoLCareerQs and if you’ve got a careers-related question, just tweet us using the hashtag.

Q: What does the Careers Centre do?

We are here to help ALL University of Leeds students with their careers and next steps after university. Whether you’re an undergraduate, a postgraduate or a PhD student; whether you know exactly what you want to do or if you have no idea, we are here to help you.  You can find out more about our services on our website.

First years: 3 things to do

In this post we’ll discuss 3 things you can do in your first year to boost your employability, based on reflecting on my own experience as a first year student. If you’re just starting univeristy, you’re probably reading this and wondering “Why would I start thinking about my career this early”, which is quite similar to what I was thinking at that stage. Looking back on my first year at university, I’ve realised it’s never too early to plan ahead, and what you do this year can have a positive impact on your employability and career prospects.

Balance between academic and extracurricular work

Image credit: Hans Splinter – Balance

Taking opportunities to develop your skills is something you should prioritise this year. The key to making the most out of your first year is finding the right balance between academic and extracurricular work – put a bit of effort toward creating your schedule to fit in both these activities.  Starting to build on your skills and experience in the second year may prove to be challenging, and it may be hard to find enough time in the first term of second year to fill any the gaps in your CV. That’s why if you start taking opportunities to build your CV in your first year, you’ll make it easier for yourself in the future.

Second years: 3 things to do this year

Starting your second academic year is an exciting time – you’re no longer a fresher, you feel more at home at university; however it can be potentially daunting as you have to make some important decisions that can have a great impact on your career prospects. Here’s 3 things you can do to make the most out of your second year:

1.Get experience

Image credit: GIPHY

Research your options

It’s best to start researching your options early and plan your time according to the options that seem best fitted to you. Because there are so many opportunities for second years, (placement, year abroad/in industry, summer internships, vacation schemes, part time work) you could easily become overwhelmed. Doing a bit of research on these options will help you get a head start and a better understanding of what’s out there for you. Getting experience that is relevant to your degree or chosen career is better, but any experience will help you develop your skills and aid your future decisions. Checking the Careers Centre website, STARS and Joblink is a good place to start, and if you have further questions you can always come by the Careers Centre and attend a drop in session for additional guidance.

Finalists: 3 things to do this year

If you’re about to start your final year at university, it can be an exciting – and potentially daunting – time. However you feel about it, the year is likely to fly by.  Here are 3 key things we would encourage you to do this year to ensure a successful future – whatever you want that to be!

 

Adapted from “Compass” by Walt Stoneburner

 

Getting some clarity in your interests and goals is really valuable.  You do not need to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life – in all likelihood this will change throughout your working life – focus instead on what next after university.

Talk to people, attend events, explore what’s out there.  Our Autumn Fair on the 10th October is a fantastic opportunity to do this, but keep an eye out for all the other events – university-wide as well as things happening in your school or faculty. These can give you invaluable insights into a whole range of careers.

Volunteering as a final year student: Headingley LitFest experience

This week, Georgia, a Music and Spanish graduate, talks about her experience with a month-long volunteering opportunity with Headingley LitFest in her final year. She gives an insight into her role in the project, and shares what the benefits are from volunteering alongside your studies.

My role volunteering at Headingley LitFest:

This year I took part in the Headingley LitFest as a volunteer. This month-long project had a number of different opportunities, and the committee were very happy to accommodate the volunteers’ desires and needs. I helped out with the setting up of a couple of events, as well as writing a review of the film screening event Jauja. I also played a significant role in the promotion of events through social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.

Fake it ’til you make it: Confidence & the Charisma Myth

Consumer Confidence! by Chris & Karen Highland

Do nerves get the better of you in interviews?

Does the thought of networking or giving a presentation fill you with dread?

These are essential elements of job search and selection processes but are things which many of us find terrifying at worst, or simply uncomfortable at best. Confidence – or at least being able to fake it ‘til you make it – will help you excel in these.  In this post I share tips for improving your confidence, through the lens of behaviour expert and author Olivia Fox Cabane’s work on charisma.

As a Careers Consultant, confidence – or lack of it – is one of the things I most often see holding people back.  Whether this be a general lack of self-confidence, or more specific issues around situations like interviews and presentations; how we feel, think about and talk to ourselves are, in my opinion, the biggest influences on confidence.