From Classroom to Career: How Graduates Can Gain Experience and Improve Employability
Careers and Employability Service - University of Portsmouth
Providing tailored and professional support to our students and graduate employers to assist in the recruitment process
By Jessica Millar , Graduate Career Adviser
Are you still searching for the right opportunity? If your confidence has taken a hit or you're feeling frustrated with the job search, you're not alone. Many graduates cite "lack of work experience" as their biggest barrier to entering the workplace. This creates a catch-22:
You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience.?
So what's the solution? Whilst there are many ways work experience can be gained, some of the traditional ways - such as work shadowing and official work placements - may not always feel accessible (as these are often few and far between). This can often lead to graduates feeling like there's no way to turn. But what if I told you there were lots of creative and less typical ways to build your experience that could help you land your next job???
Let's explore some creative ways to enhance your employability, no matter where you're at right now.
Skill-Up with Free Online Courses
Platforms like FutureLearn, OpenLearn and Coursera offer a wealth of free courses from universities. Whether it's brushing up on digital marketing or learning to code, show employers you're proactively developing new skills and knowledge. Add these certifications to your LinkedIn profile to show you're constantly learning.
Volunteer Virtually
Even if you're working part-time or juggling other commitments, virtual volunteering can fit around your schedule. Help a charity with their social media, or offer your skills to a non-profit. It all counts!? ?Check out our own MyCareer jobs board or Do-it.org for flexible, online opportunities that match your skills and interests.
Start a Passion Project
Launch a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel about something you're passionate about. It shows initiative and can demonstrate valuable skills like content creation and digital marketing. Plus, it's a great way to showcase your knowledge in your field.
Network, Network, Network
Join professional or alumni groups on LinkedIn or attend virtual industry events. Networking isn't just about finding job openings - it's about building relationships to build knowledge and gain advice that can open opportunities later on.
领英推荐
Micro-Internships and Project-Based Work
Look for short-term, project-based opportunities. Websites like Forage offer free job simulations for a range of different job areas and companies which can be added to your CV. Look out for virtual programmes also offered directly by employers.
Competitions or Hackathons
Many industries host online competitions or hackathons. They're intense, short-term projects that look great on a CV and give you a chance to demonstrate your skills in action. Whether it's a case competition for business grads or a coding challenge for tech enthusiasts, these events let you prove what you can do, not just what you know. Plus, you might even win some prizes! ?
Freelance on the Side
Websites like Fiverr can help you build experience in your field, even if it's just a few hours a week. It's a great way to fill gaps in your CV and potentially earn some extra cash. Whether it's writing, graphic design, or data entry, you're building a portfolio and gaining real-world experience.
Revisit Your CV and Online Presence
Take a fresh look at your CV and LinkedIn profile. Highlight transferable skills and key achievements from any work you've done in the past year, even if it wasn't in your ideal field.
Remember, it's okay if things haven't gone to plan. The job market has been tough, and everyone's journey is different. These activities aren't just CV fillers - they're opportunities to discover new interests, build confidence, and develop skills that will serve you well in any career.?
Feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start? Don't forget, we're still here for you! Our career services are available for up to five years after graduation. Book a one-on-one session and let's chat about your unique situation and how we can help you move forward.?
The road might be a bit longer than you expected, but you've got this. Your preferred career is still out there, and with persistence and creativity, you can find it. Let's make this your year!
Applied physics.(JOIN ME) the work presented here is entirely new
8 个月What would we expect from a new grad? Well, expect to be replaced by AI in the next five years... if you are not.... then lucky you. Expect to see more consolidation of markets and concentration of wealth, as your company experiences mergers and acquisitions activity with the rest of our economy,... private equity takeovers and the resultant release of as much as 40% of the workforce.... and more government shutdowns, do to the ever increasing loss of sovereignty by our now in bed politicians with our global power elite, as described in a book with the same title.... by professor Peter Phillips, from Sonoma State University, whereby he identifies 200 of the richest men in the world now controlling as much as 6o trillion in assets... Expect to have no pension.... Expect to be limited in vacation and sick time.... Expect to be surveilled, by your company... by your government... by your competitors.... Expect that your earnings will capture less and less of the American dream each year as inflation is misused to measure prices in three subsidized markets in energy, agriculture and transportation,... and real inflation is experienced at 10 % each year,.... after year since coming off the gold standard MARK applied physics