A student perspective on finding relevant work experience, bearing with uncertainty, and making the most of Kent opportunities<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very common for <\/span>us <\/span>students to worry about <\/span>our <\/span>career<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>We all remember the excitement <\/span>of starting <\/span>our degree and the dreams <\/span>we had <\/span>for<\/span> our <\/span>years at university and beyond. <\/span>Then the <\/span>deadlines <\/span>came, followed by stress<\/span> <\/span>and,<\/span> for many <\/span>students<\/span>,<\/span> also accompanied by<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>much needed<\/span> <\/span>part-time <\/span>job<\/span><\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Now, some of us may have encountered very good <\/span>job <\/span>opportunities<\/span>,<\/span> gaining a good base of relevant skills for their future <\/span>careers<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Others, <\/span>whether by choice or <\/span>by lack of choices, <\/span>have gone into job roles<\/span>\u00a0that didn\u2019t <\/span>quite<\/span> <\/span>match<\/span> <\/span>their <\/span>fresher<\/span> expectations. <\/span>I <\/span>was one of <\/span>them<\/span>: <\/span>I had a part time job in a restaurant<\/span> and, by the <\/span>end of my second year, I had started feeling <\/span>rather hopeless about my <\/span>future after <\/span>university<\/span>. With a service industry <\/span>job <\/span>title most recent <\/span>on my <\/span>CV and <\/span>LinkedIn profile<\/span>, how would recruiters in marketing and journalism pick me? I felt trapped – without time to do other types of work, I would be defined by the most recent job I had, which was least relevant to my aspirations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Luckily, I was <\/span>wrong!<\/span> <\/span>It turns out that it really i<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>true, as <\/span>I was often advised at our Careers and Employability Service<\/a> at Kent<\/span>, that<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span>ny work experience<\/span> gives you <\/span>valuable<\/span> and transferable <\/span>skills, <\/span>and recruiters do value this. <\/span>And it\u2019s also thanks to <\/span>the great support and opportunities they offer that I got my first <\/span>paid <\/span>(<\/span>and<\/span> relevant!)<\/span> <\/span>internship. <\/span>The number and variety of roles that Kent offers <\/span>does give students here a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>great<\/span> chance to find opportunities where they can be part of a team, learn, develop their potential and get paid! <\/span>Whether you have work experience or not, and whether you feel it\u2019s <\/span>appropriate for the roles you\u2019<\/span>re<\/span> been applying for, you can rely on the Careers and Employability Service at Kent for help. Their expert staff will support you to find your way through, whether that’s through skills development, CV checks, volunteering opportunities, support in finding placements or work experience. Students can view vacancies, events, book appointments for a CV\/application review, have a mock interview or receive Careers Guidance by booking themselves in via the TARGETconnect Careers portal<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n In my case, I got my first <\/span>role<\/span> <\/span>as part of <\/span>the work-study<\/span> s<\/span>cheme as a Student Helper supervisor. As mentioned, my experience in <\/span>hospitality <\/span>\u2013 costumer services and a <\/span>fast-paced workplace<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span> <\/span>did pay <\/span>off after all. I had<\/span> started feeling more and more positive about my future<\/span> when, a<\/span> <\/span>few weeks into my new <\/span>role and <\/span>couple of <\/span>applications later<\/span>, I was<\/span> <\/span>offered an internship role in Student Services<\/span>! <\/span>That was<\/span> everything I was looking for: <\/span>a gentle and supported start, <\/span>a <\/span>role within a sector <\/span>I\u2019ll possibly see my future <\/span>career<\/span> in<\/span> and a<\/span> whole<\/span> <\/span>set of new skills to learn alongside other student interns and professional service staff<\/span>.<\/span> I have finally kick-started my career <\/span>and <\/span>the feeling of hopelessness <\/span>has lifted, replaced by the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>excitement of this long-awaited opportunity. <\/span><\/p>\n I have chosen to <\/span>share my experience with you not <\/span>because<\/span> I <\/span>needed a public diary or a platform to shout about my success<\/span>, but<\/span> because <\/span>I <\/span>feel<\/span> that reading of real <\/span>and common struggles helps everyone to navigate through their own <\/span>on<\/span>es with a bit more understanding and direction. <\/span>My <\/span>story has had a happy turn lately, and I hope <\/span>it will give you <\/span>all<\/span> some good insights on <\/span>how and why we should <\/span>be as resilient as we can, but never truly hopeless. <\/span>Whatever<\/span> our <\/span>circumstances<\/span><\/span> are, we<\/span> <\/span>are well supported at Kent, and we <\/span>all stand a chance. Good luck to you all!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Written by Francesca Sarlo, postgraduate student, 4.11.21<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to comment on or contribute to a podcast or article for Student Services, email us at StudentServicesWeb@kent.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Check out further articles on <\/span><\/span>Careers and Employability.<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"