Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Accommodation
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Careers Steps To Get Ahead
It might come as a shock, but life progression post-uni isn't all about grades. Yes, your degree and schooling are important, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg.
Written By
Accommodation Office
Here’s a few more tips to get you on your career ladder!
1. Be social media savvy
This doesn’t mean writing witty statuses for likes. Social media profiles can detriment employment opportunities. If you have to question 'is that appropriate?' to posts or pictures, then you know the answer. Take it off or make it private. Also, get LinkedIn to allow employers to search for you and, you for them.2. Make a CV and cover letter
Whether your applying for a placement or a grad job a CV and covering letter is key. If you're applying for slightly varying positions, make different versions that don’t sound too generic. To get help on this you can use the Leeds Beckett Library Employability Skills web pages or if you would like to speak to someone email careers@leedsbeckett.ac.uk for careers advice.3. Get experience
Whether you do a year placement in the exact company and profession you're aiming for, or a year abroad travelling you're gaining valuable skills that employers look for. So get stuck in!4. Use your connections
It’s never too early to start networking – Lecturers and tutors are a good place to start and often have links with industry. Why not find someone in a job you might like to have and ask to meet them for a coffee and chat? Many people would be flattered and love talking about how they got where they are.5. Know what you're applying for
It's easy to panic and send applications here, there and everywhere. But imagine showing up to an interview for a position you know hardly anything about. Research is key, even if your sat waiting to go into an interview, check the company’s social media and you might end up mentioning something the interviewers might not even know yet.6. Preparation, preparation, preparation
You can almost guarantee certain questions getting asked in an interview, so have a Google of common ones and pre-plan your answers. You can even do this for video interviews which are most commonly competency questions. It might just save you a few embarrassing umm's and ermm's.7. Grad gains
Get in the know about graduate job websites and schemes now! A few useful ones include Milkround, theguardianjobs and graduate-jobs. The careers team is also on hand and runs plenty of events to help you feel prepared for applying for grad jobs.8. Don’t panic
Applications take time and it’s rare that people secure the first job that they apply to. Keep working at it and you will get there!
Whether a placement is a compulsory part of your course or you just want to get some practical work experience, contact your Placement Office for support and advice!
Good Luck
