Does going to uni help you get a job?
A university degree does not guarantee that you’ll get a job but there are many benefits and ways in which it increases your chances.
Why do people go to university?
People go to university for a variety of reasons depending on their motivations. One of the common reasons is to increase their career prospects. For example, according to a survey conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in 2020, graduates had a higher average salary than those who hadn’t gone to uni. The survey also found that even non-specialist job adverts often required applicants to have a degree of some kind.
How can it help you get a job?
There are a number of obvious and not so obvious ways gaining a degree can help you get a job.
Skills and knowledge
Studying for a degree qualification will increase and develop your expertise. You’ll usually learn career specific skills along with many transferable skills such as communication, problem solving and team work. You’ll also learn a lot about yourself as an independent learner in terms of motivation, organisation and responsibility.
Competitive edge
Universities typically offer a large array of resources such as specialist libraries and archives, research facilities and online databases as well as expert tuition. These sorts of opportunities broaden your knowledge and skills, giving you an edge over other candidates.
Making friends and contacts
Going to university opens up multiple opportunities to make connections. You’ll meet people from different backgrounds and disciplines and build up a network of friends, lecturers and professionals particularly if your course has a work placement attached. These connections could open doors to jobs and collaborative projects in your future.
How you can increase your chances of getting a job
There are several things you can do that will help you get the most out of your university experience as well as increasing your employability.
Choose the right course
With the rise in student fees and the cost of living, going to university purely for the experience is a thing of the past. Consider your career ambitions as well as your values to decide which course(s) will help you achieve your goals. There is a wealth of options available to choose from.
Get involved with clubs and societies
Joining groups you’re interested in will develop your networking skills. There may be opportunities to hold a committee position in that group such as president, treasurer, event coordinator or publicity officer. This will give you valuable experience to put on your CV and to talk about at a job interview.
Attend career fairs
Career fairs are a great way to learn more about different industries, meet employers and discover what job opportunities might be out there. You’ll also learn what employers are really looking for in a successful candidate. This will help you stand out from the crowd when applying for vacancies.
Get work experience with a part time job
Your degree may involve work placements but if not, you might consider getting a part time job, providing you can manage this with your studies. Having some work experience shows employers that you are motivated and responsible.
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