Employability at the University of Bristol

The Careers Service team has an office on campus, and you’ll be more than welcome to come in for a chat. Staff there can help you with creating your CV, finding a work experience placement, exploring your career options, or even just answering any questions you may have.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to talk with the team online, you can use the Careers Service live chat function on their website or get in touch at any time using the contact form. You can also access many other useful resources online on the Career Service’s Engage platform.

Boost your employability and gain skills that look great on your CV by achieving the Bristol PLUS Award.

The Bristol PLUS Award rewards students for taking part in careers-related extracurricular activities, such as an internship or part-time job, volunteering or becoming a student rep.

If you meet all the requirements for the Award, you’ll get an official certificate, and it will be recognised on your degree transcript. The Award is even endorsed by employers because it teaches skills that are useful in the workplace.

You can watch a short video of employers and University of Bristol graduates talking about the Bristol PLUS Award here.

The University of Bristol has a partnership with Student Circus, a brilliant platform where international students can find sponsored jobs and internships in the UK.

You can filter results by industry sector and business type, so you can choose between small startups and multi-national companies. You can also explore useful information on how to find a job in your home country and other destinations.

You can kickstart your career with the University of Bristol’s Career Ready courses. There are three areas of focus:

• Explore
• Experience
• Find and apply

You can take just one of these voluntary online courses or all three — ‘Explore’ and ‘Experience’ will help you to reflect on your skillset and think about what you want from a career, while ‘Find and apply’ will help you perfect your interview technique and find opportunities you never knew existed.

The Intraprenurial Knowledge Exchange Programme (IKEEP) is a unique opportunity for students to gain experience and inside knowledge of industry.

IKEEP pairs students with local businesses to work on a real project brief. This allows businesses to benefit from fresh perspectives and students to put their skills into action.

If you complete the programme, you will enjoy 8 hours of free online training, and digital award badges that showcase your industry experience.

The Sector Spotlight Series is a fantastic opportunity to connect with and learn from employers in a wide range of sectors. You’ll be able to attend virtual career fairs, panel events and webinars that are relevant to you, no matter what your degree.

The Basecamp Enterprise Team are start-up specialists who provide a wealth of information and guidance to Bristol students and graduates who are interested in starting their own business.

You can discuss your ideas in a one-on-one appointment with an Enterprise Advisor, attend workshops hosted by business experts or go to Start-up Drinks, a fun regular networking event for students interested or already involved in a start-up business.

The Basecamp Enterprise Team also advertise both internal and external competitions, many of which offer funding and support to budding entrepreneurs.

SME stands for “small and medium sized employers”. A smaller company can be a great place to get work experience — working on a small team often means you’ll get to take on more responsibility than you might at a larger business.

Through the SME Internship Scheme, you can complete an internship at one of a range of small and medium sized employers, including start-ups, charities and social enterprises. Placements are paid and can be either full or part time. You’ll also write a reflective blog about what you learned, which can help you make the most of the experience.