{"id":6676,"date":"2022-03-01T13:40:52","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T12:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=6676"},"modified":"2024-03-01T09:22:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T09:22:59","slug":"careers-advice-be-more-platypus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=6676","title":{"rendered":"Careers advice: Be more platypus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What on Earth does a platypus have to do with your career? Jack from the OU\u2019s Careers and Employability Services thinks it\u2019s high time careers advice extolled the virtues of the humble platypus…<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re not sure what you\u2019ve got to offer, don\u2019t know which direction to go in, or you\u2019re struggling to find a job role you identify with, you\u2019re at the \u2018Discover\u2019 career readiness stage<\/a>, and you have more in common with the platypus than you might imagine.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still figuring out where your OU study could take you, Careers and Employability Services can help you discover a future that matches your passions, values and talents. Time to embark on a voyage of discovery and unleash your inner platypus.<\/p>\n

Find your hidden talents<\/h3>\n

The duck-billed platypus has a swathe of hidden abilities, and you do too. You might not have a venomous horn on your foot, or use electrolocation to hunt down prey, but you do have lots of transferrable skills and qualities<\/a> which you probably haven\u2019t considered before. Discover them using the skills audit exercise<\/a> in Your Career Planning Guide.<\/p>\n

Think outside the box<\/h3>\n

\"Platypus<\/p>\n

First discovered in 1798, the platypus didn\u2019t fit into any established categories and was even considered fake. This venomous, egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal with a beak but no quack seemed to break all the rules.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be too hasty to define yourself based on your past. You can apply yourself to a much wider range of careers than you might be aware of, so think outside the box. Use our career matchmaker tool<\/a> to get matched to roles based on your interests and skills, or if you already have an idea, check out our Starting Point resources<\/a> or How do I become a\u2026?<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to put yourself out there through networking<\/a>, volunteering<\/a>, or even by doing an internship<\/a> \u2013 there are no judgmental eighteenth century naturalists you need to be worried about.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t judge a job by its name<\/h3>\n

Being more platypus is about being open to opportunities wherever and whenever they arise. This is called \u201cplanned happenstance\u201d. If you\u2019re confident in your transferable skills, and willing to think outside the box, you\u2019ll find unexpected opportunities fall into your lap much more often. Don\u2019t be put off by things that sounds unusual, just make sure you match 70% of the job description<\/a>. Take a chance by applying for vacancies on OpportunityHub<\/a> and increase your chances of success with our quick guides to CVs, interviews, applications and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Platypus Development Planning<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re ready to start being more platypus you can make it easier by using a structured, step-by-step personal development plan<\/a>. Depending on your course, you may also have access to FutureYou on the Plan or Succeed tab of your StudyHome site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Evolving beyond the platypus<\/h3>\n

Being more platypus is linked to the \u2018Discover\u2019 career readiness stage, but there are also \u2018Explore\u2019, \u2018Achieve\u2019, and \u2018Progress\u2019. Learn what stage you\u2019re at by checking your Career Readiness Pulse<\/a>, which will then signpost you to relevant tools and advice. You can also get one-to-one support<\/a> from our friendly careers experts, or find our latest resources, news and events<\/a>.<\/p>\n

OU Careers and Employability Services<\/a><\/h5>\n