Careers and Enterprise

Your time at Queen Mary will give you great opportunities to develop your skills and experiences, even from the first year of your degree programme.

Have some career ideas? Have no idea what you want to do after university? Want to explore starting your own business or go into further study? Whatever stage you are at, Careers and Enterprise can give advice and information on how to take your next step. 

If you are a new degree apprentice with us, please see our website for further information on how we can support you.

Do I need to know now what I want to do after university?

If you do have a career idea when you start university, your experience as a student will likely change your ambitions a number of times. This is all part of the learning journey, as you develop new skills and learn about jobs and employers you have probably not even heard of.

University is a fantastic opportunity to widen your experience and meet a range of people. Studying for a degree will already allow you to develop many skills valued by employers from research and analytical skills, to group work and report writing. 

What can I do while I'm at university to build my skills?  

There are many additional ways you can make the most of your time at university, whilst building your skills, boosting your CV and doing something you enjoy. 

• Joining a QMSU Society is a great way to meet new people and spend time doing something you are interested in. You could get involved with activities such as organising events, writing newsletters, fundraising or designing graphics and marketing. These are all responsibilities that will give you practical experience you can add to your CV to impress future employers. Go along to the Fresher’s Fair in your first week, where you can meet a range of student societies and find out more.
  
  
• There are a number of campus opportunities for students at Queen Mary such as being a course rep, or student ambassador. These positions of responsibility provide you with the opportunity to gain experience in areas like public speaking.
  
  
• Volunteering is another way to gain skills and experiences that you can use for your CV. Here at Queen Mary we have a volunteering programme that allows you to search local opportunities. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer across London (or wherever you happen to be!). 
  
  
• Even if a job may not seem directly relevant to your future career, part time work will help you develop valuable skills such as time management, communication and team working. Each piece of work experience you have, will help you understand more about the world of work, which will help you make informed choices about what you might want to do after university.
  
  
• Make your own experience! You can also develop skills and experiences yourself at home, such as fundraising for a charity or starting your own blog about a subject that interests you. There are also a huge number of free online courses available, so you can become familiar with coding, presentation skills, Excel, data analysis, design and more! Not only does this evidence a passion for a particular area, but demonstrates to employers you are enthusiastic and motivated.

Support available once you get here

Careers and Enterprise can help you wherever you are in your career journey. We provide information, advice and guidance on topics ranging from finding work experience, volunteering your time and acquiring the information needed to start your own business. 

Whether you are still thinking about what you want to do after graduation or have a plan already and just need help getting there, we can help. Once you have enrolled, you will be able to access our support and services, which include:

For further advice when starting at university, you can access these external guides which will provide you with helpful advice on University Life and Making the Most of Your Time at University.