Are you considering studying abroad? If yes, then you’ve just taken that first step towards a successful career! Various research indicates that studying overseas can significantly enhance your career prospects and salary. In today’s global market, companies want employees who can work in multicultural teams and do business at an international level. However, if you really want to reach for the stars you have to think beyond just the academic sphere, this is where the University of Chester comes into its own!
As soon as you enrol at the University, you have access to a huge range of careers services (work shadowing placements, help with CVs and job applications, mock job interviews) designed to help you find work while you study, or prepare you for a graduate career.
Throughout the academic year, you can choose from over 40 short workshops (e.g. Project Management, Developing a Team, Communication for Business) which will provide you with the practical skills needed for when the time comes to enter the world of work. You can also complete the world’s most recognised computer training course – the ECDL, which costs around £100 but is provided free to our students.
Effective communication is necessary when searching for a job; the University of Chester hosts students from over 130 countries and to help international students achieve their full potential, we offer free in–session English and study-skills classes.
If you are thinking of starting a business, you can attend practical sessions (e.g. start-up costs, business planning, funding etc.) at our Riverside Innovation Centre (RIC). For the past few years RIC has been supporting student-led Enterprise Society ‘Chester Endeavour’ in organising entrepreneurship competitions (2013 winners attended the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Brazil).
Your entrepreneurship skills can be tested at the annual Santander Enterprise Challenge, this prestigious event is open to all students – entrants simply need to explain their business idea in 800 words for a chance to win a first prize of £1,000. The finalists get to present their business plans in front of judges which previously consisted of high profile business people including: the Marks and Spencer Money’s Chief Executive; Money Supermarket.com founder and Business Strategy Manager, Tata Steel. Surely a great way to impress your potential employer, as was the case with Karthik, the 2013 finalist, who secured a job with a multinational company within weeks of returning back home.
Employers want experience, but how can students get this? The answer to this “catch 22” situation is volunteering. TimeBank commissioned reed.co.uk to carry out research on 3,000 employers and employees across the UK. 80% of employers said that they value volunteering on a CV when recruiting and 73% of employers said they’d employ someone who has volunteered over someone who hasn’t.
At Chester, you can get involved in a number of fantastic volunteering opportunities, our students have been involved in activities such as planning and managing charity events, mentoring young people and giving advice at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Student Ambassador and Global Guide schemes are very popular with many of our international students. What do they do? They act as tour guides at University Open Days; represent our institution at external events such as UCAS Fairs, assist at airport pick-ups and orientation events for new international students. Just imagine how many transferrable skills (e.g. leadership, communication, team work, and time management) you could acquire to enhance your CV.
Students with good interpersonal skills can apply for a Hall Warden position. This is a sought after role for high calibre students and can be a highlight on any CV.
At Chester, international students can work up to 20 hours/week during term time and full-time during holidays, the City is ideal to fish for jobs. Chester Business Park is one of the North West’s largest and most prestigious business locations- home to a number of multinational companies such as Bank of America (MBNA) and Marks and Spencer Money. In addition, companies such as Airbus, HBOS, Coca Cola Schweppes, GM Motors and Electronic Arts Technologies have large scale operations based in the immediate vicinity of the University. On top of that, Manchester and Liverpool can be reached by a one hour train journey.
Fast facts about The University of Chester
- Highest ranked university in the North West of the UK for students securing a graduate level job after completing their course (The Complete University Guide 2013).
- Careers and Employability Department declared “world class” and awarded 5 stars by British Quality Foundation.
- Excellent record of employment for our graduates with a success rate of 92%.
- UniJob: recruitment bank of paid positions at the University for students.
- Each year we find work placements for over 1,000 undergraduate students
- A wide portfolio of undergraduate sandwich business courses with 1 year placement.
- Between 90 and 100 employers visit the University each year for various purposes.
- Work relevant courses. Professionals from companies such as TATA, Bank of America, Marks and Spencer sit on the Chester Business School advisory board and help us design the curriculum.
- A number of jobs and volunteering fairs are organised throughout the year.
To read first hand student account on life at University of Chester, Click Here
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