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Over 100 Vital Things To Do At University To Increase Your Employability

The experience of higher education is not just about what you learn from studying, it is about your life whilst you are there.

If Only I'd Known: making the most of higher education, is a guide for students and parents. The publication is funded by the DfES and written by Peter Hawkins, Graduates into Employment Unit, and Carl Gilleard, Association of Graduate Recruiters. 

It is intended to encourage students to make the most of their university experience. This book focuses on the whole higher education experience, including studying, free time activities and work experience, and how to exploit it to gain the skills and other attributes which graduate employers are looking for.

Suggestions are made about managing the experience and harnessing available help to maximise its value. We think the numerous pieces of advice and "top tips" are valuable to students from the time your course starts to the time you market yourself to graduate employers. Although the book is written with sixth formers in mind it is a resource that you, as a student, will find useful throughout your studies.

You can download a free copy here in PDF:

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During your time at  university you need to begin to understand what employers are going to expect from you when you start looking for a job - and you need need to begin thinking about how you are going to provide it.

Many employers are now place less importance on your subject of study than the personal skills and qualities you possess. You should consider your academic and intellectual skills, your social life, part-time employment and extra curricular responsibilities and activities. These may all be good sources of evidence for the qualities and skills employers seek. Look at your time at university as investment and thoroughly analyse look at the range of skills that you may have acquired.

It is an important component of career decision making that you recognise certain skills and qualities in yourself.

The 'If Only I'd Known' guide is written and directed by Peter Hawkins and Carl Gilleard and is supported by Graduate Prospects, The Guidance Council, The Learning and Teaching Support Network, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group and UCAS.