The Open University

Applying for teaching: your questions answered

23 October 2024

Teaching remains a hugely popular career choice for OU students wanting to make a difference to society. 27% of Open University graduates from four years ago are now working in education, with ‘teacher’ being the most common job title among respondents (2023 Employability of Qualifiers Survey). Our recently updated teaching guides for your nation cover […]

How OU student Andrew learned to taste success

27 September 2024

‘With the OU you can grow academically and professionally at the same time’ – OU News Skills development is built into every OU students’ journey, in module activities, managing your study time and in our regular live skills workshops. Andrew developed his incredible chocolate business alongside studying at the OU. Here he shares some insights […]

How to see what others see in you

15 August 2023

Chatting to my sister before I went to a job interview a few years ago, she gave me some advice. “Tell them you’re really good at putting other people at ease,” she said. “Am I?” I asked, surprised. Sometimes, we don’t realise that what we’re naturally good at is something other people wish they could […]

Brand yourself and achieve your goals

18 May 2023

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. If you’re ready to apply for jobs, internships or further study, you’re at the ‘Achieve’ career readiness stage. ‘Selling yourself’, or convincingly matching your unique skills and qualities to the needs of the outside world, is […]

Discover your future – caterpillar your career

3 May 2023

Finding the right career path can make you feel a bit like a caterpillar – slow and small in a world much bigger than you where everything seems a bit hairy and scary. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, this is often the case for students at the ‘Discover’ career readiness stage. We should also not […]

Progress your life – find your ikigai

3 May 2023

At the OU’s Careers and Employability Services we help many students along their path to employment, but thinking about your future is more than work and could include further study, volunteering, or community initiatives. There are many other ways than paid employment to use your skills and try out different things. You can navigate your […]

OU students open new career dimensions at Alderley Park

7 February 2023

Career readiness research amongst thousands of OU students reveals that a skill many of you would like to improve on is reaching out and connecting to employers and industry professionals. This is also called networking, and OU Careers and Employability Services has lots of networking resources and tips to help you start. Getting the inside […]

Take control and futureproof your career

6 February 2023

The world of work has always been subject to change, but in recent years it feels as though the pace of change has snowballed and this can make the future feel uncertain for many of us. The pandemic dramatically transformed the way a lot of people work. Remote and hybrid working is now part of […]

Career contacts and conversations: how to reach out to people and start networking

8 July 2022

Getting inside knowledge by talking to people working in the sector you’re aiming for and connecting with employers – we call it ‘networking’ for short. It’s something everyone is apprehensive about, but most people can find a way that works for them once they give it a go. It can help you achieve your goals […]

6 quick guides to achieving your goals

20 April 2022

Struggling to break through with your CV and job applications? Need help with your interview technique? I’m Andrew, a Careers and Employability Consultant based in Scotland, and I help students and graduates in this position all the time. OU Careers and Employability Services can help make your CV, LinkedIn, applications and covering letters stand out […]

Juliet Andrew Orji, Client Services Manager for Employers for Carers

Employers want carers – and here’s why

22 March 2022

Are you an OU student and combining your studies with being a carer? If so, perhaps you’re starting to discover career options that fit in with your caring responsibilities, or exploring pathways to specific career goals. You may even be ready to start applying for opportunities. Start discovering where OU study might take you with […]

Dungeons, dragons… and discover your role in life

2 March 2022

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a game where you roleplay a unique character in an imaginary world full of monsters, magic, and mischief. Jack from OU Careers and Employability Services is a big enthusiast, and he thinks D&D could teach us to unlock new pathways: “D&D could give you a creative way to imagine your […]

Careers advice: Be more platypus

1 March 2022

What on Earth does a platypus have to do with your career? Jack from the OU’s Careers and Employability Services thinks it’s high time careers advice extolled the virtues of the humble platypus… If you’re not sure what you’ve got to offer, don’t know which direction to go in, or you’re struggling to find a […]