Brand yourself and achieve your goals

“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 […]

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Age is no barrier for employers

Do you feel you’ve left it too late to change career? Or perhaps you worry your youth and lack of experience might be an issue. I’m Georgina, an Employer Engagement Manager here at the OU, and students highlight ‘age’ at nearly every employer event we host, especially those who feel too old to change career […]

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Discover your future – caterpillar your career

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 […]

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Progress your life – find your ikigai

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 […]

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Getting to know and love the new ‘you’

Our role at work is often a huge part of who we are. We spend a lot of time at work and often feel our jobs are part of our identity. That’s why changing career can seem like changing the ‘you’ you present to the world. If you feel the prospect of such a psychological […]

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TikTok your career

More than ever, there is a wealth of careers advice online that OU students may use to help steer their career. We hope our on-demand webinars on social media networking and LinkedIn guide will help you navigate your cyber-presence, as well as our recent LinkedIn: standing out from the crowd session which was hosted by […]

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Spring clean your CV

Spring is in the air and the days are getting longer, so what better time to breathe new life into your CV, take a fresh look at your skills, and spring forward towards your goals? We’ve got everything you need. Take your CV to the cleaners Get your CV spotless with our CV360 tool which […]

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OU students open new career dimensions at Alderley Park

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 […]

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Take control and futureproof your career

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 […]

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Dealing with a disappointing classification

What to do if you don’t get the degree result you need? We know waiting to receive your degree result can be both an anxious and exciting time. If you receive a lower classification than you expected, you may be worried about the impact on your future career. If you haven’t yet finished your qualification […]

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

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 […]

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Carer, student or career changer? – Who are you today?

We all have different roles – some days I can be a carer, mum, careers consultant, friend, finance manager, admin worker, first aider, grown up daughter, cook, cleaner, event organiser… The list is endless.” Jackie Pickles, OU Careers and Employability Consultant I bet some of you recognise this, especially if you’re juggling caring responsibilities with […]

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Shortcuts to success: career planning for busy people

Struggling to find time to plan your career? Don’t put it off any longer – fulfil your ambitions with the OU’s quick and easy careers guides, exercises, templates, and links. I’m Catrin, and I’m an OU Careers and Employability Consultant who supports students and graduates like you to work towards their goals. My 6 quick […]

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6 quick guides to achieving your goals

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 […]

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Employers want carers – and here’s why

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 […]

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