There are lots of opportunities to develop your employability and skills during your time here at Swansea – through your studies, work experience placements and student jobs as well as your leisure activities and things like volunteering, writes Jo Davies.

Careers and Employability offers services to help you make the most of all your talents and find the direction that’s right for you, whether it’s a job, internship, further study or time out to try something different. Around 40% of advertised graduate jobs are open to graduates of any subject, so you probably have more options open to you than you might think.

Find us in the Library and online
Our Helpdesk is on the ground floor of the Library in the central hall just before you go into the study hall. It’s open throughout the year (not just term-time) from 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (10 am – 5 pm Tuesday).
Our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers is a gateway to information on careers and further study options and job search skills, We provide lots of information on Blackboard too, such as:
•Aptitude tests and personal development assessments – try out the kinds of selection tests employers use and get confidential feedback reports by email for FREE.
•Databases covering all kinds of careers topics and opportunities overseas.
•Resources to help you with Personal Development Planning (PDP), which basically means thinking about how you’re getting on, and identifying/developing a variety of skills that will enable you to make the most of your time at university and get what you want from your future career.

Swansea Employability Award
The SEA helps you explore who you are and then gain experience and develop skills. If you complete the SEA it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR). Visit www.sea.swansea.ac.uk.

Advice from the Careers Team
Getting your head around career ideas may seem daunting to start with, but we can help you break it down into manageable bite-size chunks, with face to face help and also online advice through our website.
To make an appointment for an informal chat with a Careers Adviser you can book online through our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers. They can help with any career topic you want to discuss, such as CVs and personal statements, completing application forms, preparing for interviews – any many more. Advice by email will also be available later on in the year.

Stand out from the crowd
Employers want to see evidence of lots of different skills and personal qualities which you can develop by joining in with student societies, sports clubs, etc as well as from doing work experience placements. So a good social life is good for your career too.
Starting early is a key factor to help you get the career and lifestyle you eventually want – here’s why:
•To help you stand out from the crowd amongst the ever-increasing numbers of students graduating from university.
•Giving yourself the chance to try out different types of jobs will help you understand what you really want in your future career – and what you don’t want!
•Employers often use internships as the talent pool for their main graduate recruitment programmes.
•For certain careers (e.g. journalism, teaching, psychology, law you need good experience under your belt early to include in successful applications for professional postgraduate training.
•Your final year will be very busy with exams and assignments, so spreading the load over three or four years makes things a lot easier.

Jobs, internships and part time work
In the Jobs section of our site at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/jobs/ you will find our database of UK-wide vacancies notified direct to Careers and Employability including jobs for after you graduate, immediate graduate vacancies, work experience placements, voluntary work, and temporary casual jobs in the Swansea area.
As well as our own database, you’ll find links to many other sources of jobs and work experience opportunities. For instance, the GO Wales programme offers paid placements and short unpaid work tasters.

CV Workshops
A lunchtime practical workshop covering the key points on how to write an effective CV. These workshops are useful if you have not yet written your CV or need further advice, and whether you are applying for term-time or post graduation vacancies. Please note we cannot give you one-to-one help at this workshop as time does not allow, but you can bring your CV with you.
Book your place on the careers website at: www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/talksandevents

Careers Fair Oct 4
Don’t miss the Careers Fair on 4 October! This is your chance to spend some time talking to people you may want to work with, and the Fair will also include a CV clinic and workshops. There are dozens of employers attending and it takes place in the Marquee outside Fulton House from 10am to 3pm. You can find more information and a list of recruiters taking part in the Fair on our events page at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/talksandevents

Careers talks
In addition to the Fair, we have a programme of events running throughout the year, but most of them happen during the Autumn term and early Spring Term. It includes employers’ presentations and also workshops on a range of career management and skills topics. New events are being added to our database all the time, so keep an eye on our web page at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/talksandevents/ where you can book online for anything that you’re interested in.

And finally …
Enjoy your time at Swansea and take advantage of all the opportunities to make the most of your experience as a student because your time here will go quickly you’ll be graduating before you know it!