Careers Service at University of Bath

We are delighted you are considering the University of Bath as a place to study. As we know that employability is a big part of your motivation to study, in this article our Careers Service answers your most popular questions. 

Q. How can the Careers Service help me find a job in the UK?

UB: One very important thing to say is that our help and support centres around empowering you to choose the career and sector you are interested in, and then to make excellent applications and perform well in interviews and assessment centres. While we do advertise jobs and internships, we do not provide a job-matching service; the expectation from companies is that students will apply for roles and that companies will select the best person for the role.

We do offer an extensive job vacancy platform, and some excellent advice on job-seeking strategies including how to find the right company for you, how to find companies that are not currently advertising and making compelling speculative applications.

Q. What can I do to prepare myself before I arrive?

UB: The recruitment season opens really soon after you arrive in Bath, so any activity around choosing a career path would be helpful – if you know what you want to apply for and what is important to you in a job, that makes choosing from the many on offer easier. To help you with this, have a look at the careers guidance tools on Prospects which will guide you through considering your skills, values and motivations and link them with some job suggestions.

Ensure your Linkedin profile and CV reflect all your experiences so far. Any internships you have completed will be valuable work experience in the UK, as will volunteering or positions of responsibility in societies or sports clubs, so do include them. If you know what you want to do, try looking at job profiles to get an idea of what skills and experiences are likely to be valuable.

Q. What do UK employers look for in a graduate?

UB: The following are qualities that UK employers are looking for in graduates:  

• Soft skills – for UK employers it isn’t your degree knowledge that is the most important, it is your other skills, such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Below are examples on how to gain these.
• UK experience on your CV – Get involved on campus or in the community, in a part-time job or as a volunteer. Join Students’ Union activities as a representative, mentor or get active in a society. See more ideas here.
• Tailor your applications - Every job application you write needs to be tailored to the skills requirements of the role, you will therefore need a new application for every role you apply for.

Q. What are the job opportunities for international students and when should I apply?

UB: The application process and timings vary depending on the type of opportunity:

• Graduate Programmes: are usually with larger companies and may include rotations in different roles. The application process can be lengthy with online applications and tests, video interviews, and assessment centres. Top Tip: apply early as recruitment often opens in the autumn of your final year and has ‘rolling recruitment’ (i.e. the recruiter processes applications as soon as they are submitted).
• Graduate and ‘Experienced Hire’ jobs: are usually advertised 1-3 months before the role starts so you usually apply later in your final year. The application process is usually shorter – a CV and cover letter, followed by an interview. Top Tip: tailor your application to the job description and the needs of the company.
• Internships and Placements: are temporary roles of 1-12 months. Top Tip: Follow the guidance from your Placements team on how and when to apply.

We hope you’ve found that useful – and look forward to hopefully seeing you at Bath! If you have more questions, have a look at this page or do chat with us at the upcoming Virtual Open Days. To find out more, check out the official university website, here. Candidates can also get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university admissions. 

Also Read:

• 8 tips for settling into life as a student at a UK university
• Developing Skills for Success at the University of Bath

About the Author(s)

Ghislaine, Caroline and Aste all provide career advice and support to UK and international students at the University. Ghislaine specialises in providing support for Faculty of Engineering and Design students, Caroline specialises in support for the MSc student cohorts and Aste the UG student cohorts in the School of Management.