About to throw yourself into the world of work? Our academic team have shared their tips so you can increase your chances of landing the job you want.
Published by Editorial Team on 12 June 2025.
As a student, it can be daunting to think about the transition from scholar to employee. After years of lectures, workshops, assessments, cooking on a budget and socialising, the leap to the workplace is often difficult to imagine.
But while you've been studying, you'll have developed many qualities that make you far more employable than you may realise - think metacognition skills (that's critical thinking), an ability to hit deadlines and money management wisdom (anybody who can live on a budget of 85p a day is a financial genius).
We know all about preparing people for the world of work. Employability is embedded into all of our courses and 94% of our postgraduate students were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data).
We've collated some advice from our Academic team on how you can prepare yourself for the world of work - because even when employers are fighting tor talent, there’s always competition for the best roles.
Make use of your critical-thinking skills
If you want to come across as credible to employers, the critical thinking you've acquired at university will be a big help. Instead of giving textbook answers in an interview, start a dialogue with your interviewer. Don't be afraid of scenario questions where, for example, you might be asked to devise solutions for a product that is struggling to sell online. Engage with the interviewer by applying your critical thinking - for example, you may ask what happened to a previous service that disappeared from the market.
Rather than just explaining things you learned at university, use them in a practical way instead. Think of a carpenter. They might want to show off their sophisticated new hammer, but people aren’t interested in that. Instead, they want the carpenter to use the hammer to solve a problem. It's the same with your academic knowledge - use it to find solutions.
Get the most out of your part-time job
Part-time jobs are a fantastic way to develop employability skills, but if you view your job as something where you can work as little as possible, you won't learn much. If you're waiting tables in a cafe, for example, volunteer to do the accounts to get financial experience, or devise a solution for the chef who gets stressed when goods they've ordered don't arrive on time. Show that you can think critically and add value beyond your prescribed tasks. If you’ve introduced a way to increase customers or save costs, these are quantifiable metrics that you can add to your CV or LinkedIn profile.
Develop teamwork skills
Being a good leader isn't about being in charge, but about the ability to make other members of a team contribute at their best. Being able to motivate others is a cultural intelligence employers love - these skills are usually acquired on the job, but they can also be picked up in team sports, university clubs or societies and through group work on your course.
Build your LinkedIn profile…
Many students think there's nothing to put on their LinkedIn because they have no experience. Firstly, remember all successful entrepreneurs started with a blank CV. You can also enhance your profile by including any relevant experience, no matter how small, such as summer charity work, progress made in a part-time job or challenges you've faced during your studies. Follow any organisations you'd like to work for and keep your profile relevant, consistent across platforms and reflected in your CV.
… and start networking there now
If you've identified an organisation you'd like to work for, you can start engaging with current employees by commenting on their LinkedIn posts. It's a great way to get yourself on their radar and demonstrate thought leadership. But make sure you engage with them: demanding they give you a job is a surefire way to burn your chances. You could also try contacting university alumni working within that organisation to learn more about the company and get them on side.
Make sure your digital footprint is squeaky-clean
Employers may well browse your social media when considering you for a job. If they spy disgraceful shots of you and your friends on Instagram, they probably won't select you for an interview. Check your privacy settings, think about what version of yourself you’re putting out online and review your content regularly.
Tailor your application towards the role
One of the biggest mistakes students make when hunting for a job is adopting a ‘scattergun’ approach, such as sending out hundreds of the same covering letter to employers. A more effective way to land a job is to curate your covering letter, making it bespoke to the job spec and the company and highlighting specific relevant skills you already possess for the role.
Speak with university staff and alumni
Our lecturers are more than happy to help our student succeed outside of the classroom as well as in their academics. We have a lot of connections in the industry and can introduce students to businesspeople on LinkedIn, send an email to a CEO we know or provide entrepreneurial support or directions.
It doesn't matter if you're still undecided about which career to pursue
Some students know their passion and, of course, should absolutely pursue that. But many have no idea what to do after graduation, which is no problem either.
Keeping your opportunities open is not a bad approach - take Roger Federer, who dabbled in a variety of sports including skiing and wrestling, before deciding on tennis. When you’re 20, you still have a chance to become a doctor, an engineer or indeed launch your own business.
If you end up leaving university and being an assistant to a florist, it could be great - you could learn new skills, develop a passion for horticulture or find a brilliant business idea. So many entrepreneurs started this way and hyper-specialisation is a thing of the past. These days, skills such as being creative and being able to navigate the gig economy may prove much more valuable than getting into a specific career.
Want to know more about our Business School? Head to our Business hub.
A version of this article was originally published on The Guardian as part of a paid partnership.
