During your time at university, it’s common to feel pressure to make sure you are as ‘employable’ as possible by the time you graduate, equipped with the key skills needed to stand out in job applications and secure the ‘perfect position’. At Lancaster University, there are numerous opportunities to enhance your employability skills both on and off campus. Here are some examples:

Join Student Clubs and Societies

Joining a club or a society is a great way to develop your employability skills, especially if there is opportunity to join an exec which provides the chance to develop your leadership and communication skills, common skills that are valued by employers.

Some clubs and societies may also align directly with your career interests too, such as coding clubs, debate teams, or entrepreneurship groups.

To find out more about societies you can join, check out the Lancaster Students' Union website

Develop Skills Through Part-Time Work

Part-time work can be invaluable for developing your skills and looks great on your CV. Whether that’s a part time job in a local restaurant or completing shifts as a Student Ambassador for your department, each opportunity will not just support your skills development, but also help build your confidence and resilience too.

Wondering what opportunities are available? The Employment and Recruitment Service website is a good place to start. Or why not book to see the Careers Service who can help you explore your options further.

Take Part in Volunteering

Volunteering isn’t just a great way of making a difference to a cause that’s important to you, it’s also a great way of developing skills in organisation, project management and adaptability. It also shows your commitment to getting involved with your local community, and ability to meet new people.

Not sure where to start? We’ve created the following webpage to help you explore your volunteering options here

Make the Most of University Resources

The Careers Service put on a variety of employability workshops, career fairs, and networking events throughout the academic year. Attending these is a great way of developing skills, but also for meeting and networking with others, and finding out about other opportunities that you can get involved with.

You can also broaden your skillset by completing online courses through LinkedIn Learning, which you get free access to by visiting the following link - https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/ask/linkedin/

A Final Thought

To summarise, there are many ways to gain valuable experience and develop your skills while studying at university. The most important thing to remember is that what works for one person might not work for another. A great starting point is to choose something you enjoy, as you’re more likely to fully engage with the experience and get the most out of it.

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.