University was honestly the best 3 years of my life. But looking back on the experience now, (especially when I see them student loans repayments leave my account every month *cries*) I realise that there were so many opportunities at my disposal that I really should’ve taken advantage of.
I have partnered with my friend and fellow Medium Careers Blogger, Mary Agbesanwa to write a few #StudentSeries blogs to motivate university students as they head back to university this autumn. We both get a lot of requests for advice and tips so hopefully this series covers what students, like you, want to know
For this blog we have come up with 6 tips on how to make the most of your university experience with clear actionable steps tailored to whether you are a first/second or final year student. Read three here on my blog and the next 3 on Mary’s.
Grow and diversify your network
There is no better time and place to build and grow your network than at university! On a daily basis you have access to thousands of national and international students all from different backgrounds, with different skills, hobbies and their own networks they can connect you to. Having a diverse network is great for making friends, and in times when you may need help with a piece of work or start applying to jobs and internships.
Action:
1st and 2nd year students: Join a wide variety of societies so you are exposed to as many people as possible, attend on campus networking events, and make the effort to sit next to different people in your lectures.
Final year students: Although you may not have as much time to be active in societies, make an effort to really get to know and bond with those on your course. Organising group study sessions with your fellow course members is a good start,
Step out of your comfort zone and learn new skills
Something which I appreciate so much about university now is that there are so many opportunities to learn new skills. From sports, to languages to coding etc, there wasn’t many things you couldn’t do. Whether you were a complete beginner or coming in at an advanced level, there was something for everyone.
Action:
1st year students: I know I’ve repeated this but just have a go! Join a sports society, enroll in a language club, learn to play an instrument or code etc, try a variety of things that are new to you and outside of your comfort zone. Not only is it a great way to meet more people but it will become super useful when you’re starting to build up your CV to apply for internships and full-time roles. Learning a new skill over time (in addition to studying) shows that you are disciplined, committed, organised and more.
2nd year students: Think about focusing on 1 or 2 of these new skills. The workload in second year is more intense and it tends to count towards your final year grade, so now is the time to focus on the skills that you not only enjoy learning but will also add value and benefit you long term.
Final year students: With graduation and full-time work on the horizon, you may want to think about how you can continue to develop this new skill of yours once university is over. Depending on where you will be based, you can look out for local clubs or meetups where you can brush up on your skills or it may be worth picking up an online course e.g. Udemy, Coursera if it’s something that can be found on there.
Make use of all the free services at your disposal
Something which many of us don’t realise whilst we are at university is that there is a really strong support system in place for students, although it may not always feel like it. Whether you need help applying for jobs and general career preparation, health and well-being or starting your own business, you have access to many free services. When you complete university, you’ll see that some of these services cost loads.
1st year students: If I was to do university again, I would’ve started a business in my first year, just because many universities have so much funding to support students with their ventures. When you try to kick start your side hustle outside of university, it’s soooo costly! But looking on my university website now, I see all the training and funding opportunities they provide for students and I wish I took advantage. Entrepreneurship may not be your thing, but I think the chance to create your own income from a business that is 100% yours is one that shouldn’t be slept on. If your university has a small business/start-up/entrepreneurship hub, I’d recommend giving it a visit.
2nd year and final year students: As your workload increases and you begin to feel the pressure of applying for internships and graduate jobs, make sure you frequently engage with your university careers team or if there is one specific to your subject department, reach out to them. They can help you with your CV and cover letter prep, guide you on application processes, even directly connect you to employers. I was part of the business school at university, and someone from the careers team was good friends with a recruiter for one of the banks I was applying for. She helped me tailor my CV and cover letter for this bank specifically and it meant I was very successful with my application. Also, if it all starts to get too much, make use of your university’s health/well-being/mental health services. Sometimes speaking to someone who doesn’t know you and is outside of your immediate friendship circle is much easier.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this blog post! Feel free to reach out to myself or Mary if you have any questions. Don’t forget to check out Mary’s blog here for more amazing and insightful career advice!
Rene xx
