TURNING LEARNING INTO EARNING

MAKING UNI PAY OFF IN THE LONG TERM

TURNING

LEARNING

INTO EARNING

The Student Room

The University of Portsmouth is a new breed of university – a breath of fresh air in the academic world – where everyone gets the support they need to achieve their best. We recruit students for their promise and potential and for where they want to go.

We are a top-25 university in the UK (The Guardian, 2019) and first for boosting graduate salaries (The Economist, 2017). We also have an excellent level of student satisfaction (88%) while our teaching has the highest rating of gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Since we opened our doors, our story has been about looking forward. We’re interested in the future. We’re here to help you shape it.

What uni can do for your earnings.........................................................................3

How to have what employers want.......................................................................4

CV building starts now: why it’s never too soon to start selling yourself......................8

Choosing the right options after school...............................................................12

Studying choices: degrees vs apprenticeships.................................................... 16

How to make the most of university....................................................................20

The long game: choosing the ideal uni for your future..........................................24

CONTENTS

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

Working out what to do after school or college is never easy.

If you’re looking at university as an option, there are lots of things to consider. But while people think about location, reputation and prestige, many will miss one key question: will the university I choose help me find a better job? This guide focuses on that question, aiming to help turn your learning into earning.

At the University of Portsmouth, we take pride in preparing our students for life beyond the lecture hall. We build our courses to make sure you’re learning the skills you’ll need in your chosen career. It pays off too, as we’re number one in the UK for boosting graduate salaries, with our students earning thousands more each year than expected.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with The Student Room to create this ebook. It’s full of advice on building your employability skills and choosing your ideal university.

You’ll hear from students who share their own experiences of getting ready for work after graduation. And our academics and staff explain the employability support you should expect from your university.

By the end of this guide, we hope you’ll feel more confident about picking a university that improves your chances of getting a job in your chosen career - and boosting your earnings in the long run.

- The University of Portsmouth

WHAT UNI CAN DO FOR YOUR EARNINGSFINDING A UNIVERSITY THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU IN THE LONG TERM

The Student Room

BUILDING YOUR EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Studying hard, getting good qualifications and looking great in a sharp interview outfit should be enough to kickstart your career, right?

Well, maybe. But for most people, it’s a bit more complicated.

With more than 500,000 full-time students graduating from UK universities each year, and many more completing other higher-level qualifications, the job market is very competitive.

Going to uni is one thing, but to get a good job you need to stand out from the crowd. Employers want to know that the person they are hiring not only has the qualifications but also other skills which are learned outside of the classroom.

Experience, relationships and understanding of the workplace are all things you can start working on – before you even get to uni – to sharpen up your employability.

And if you decide that university is the right thing for you, it is worth asking about support offered outside of the lecture hall to help you develop those skills further and boost your job prospects in the long run.

HOW TO HAVE WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT

GETTING THE SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR

• ●Get some work experience. This could be in your chosen field, but any stint in the workplace will be a learning experience

• Start networking and building relationships

• Find a mentor who can help give you advice on what skills you need to succeed

• Be positive and flexible - you’ll be amazed how far a good attitude will get you

• Use the freedom of studying to explore new avenues. By volunteering, doing part-time jobs and getting involved in groups at school or college, you can discover how to get into your chosen career

At school there was a job I went for when I was 17 for a part-time receptionist. I just expected to get it, and I didn’t. I found getting things really easy up to that point, but it’s now really useful because every time I go for something I think back to that and remember what it was like. You’ve really got to be resilient and keep trying.

- Angel Layer, vice president (education and democracy), University of Portsmouth students’ union

A degree and qualifications in general doesn’t really define you as a person but having qualities does, such as being reliable, hard-working and [having] an excellent work ethic. From personal experience, to get what you want in life you need determination, motivation and good work experience.”

- AngelsandFairies, The Student Room

I graduated from university and five days later walked into a job in the sector [publishing] I’ve wanted to work in since I was 14. Being a good communicator is key for so many job roles and nothing shows that better than a degree in English language. I also found getting office experience was invaluable and networking proved very important too.

- Lorren Mearns, studying English language

WHAT STUDENTS SAY...

The Student Room

The best boost you can give to your employability while at university is having a part-time job or something which provides you with work skills. The number of people who plop out of university holding their lovely degrees and have absolutely no idea how to function in a working environment is worrying. You might be capable, but if you can prove you’re capable it’s even better.

- Russellsteapot, The Student Room

Having a good degree will get you an interview but when it comes to choosing the right candidate for the role, most employers need to see a positive attitude and a passion to learn and contribute to the business.

If graduates have already had a taste of working life, this will make a big difference, as well as having the initiative to learn about working in their chosen industry. Employers want to see that candidates are genuinely interested in working for them, so be curious, dig deeper and get experience wherever you can.

- Vicky Cozens Assoc CIPD Graduate recruitment consultant University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

Placements are really important so I can get clinical experience when it comes to job searching. Just getting basic experience doing this is really important because every job is different so you need to pick up the skills of actually working in a clinical setting.

- Samira Raquib, studying human physiology

The Student Room

WHY IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO START SELLING YOURSELF

When you’re still studying, a CV is probably way down your priority list. After all, with few qualifications, little or no work experience and your immediate future obviously mapped out, why do you need one?

For one, it will help you decide your path. Sitting down and writing out your skills, interests and achievements will help you think about what you enjoy and what type of person you are. This is all useful when working out the direction you want to go in.

Crucially, though, it also gives focus when thinking about what skills you may need moving forward. A CV can be used as a checklist, allowing you to identify gaps in your experience which you can then go out and fill through paid or voluntary work experience.

So, while you may still be some years from applying for full-time careers, working on your CV is a surefire way to help you on the path to achieving your goals.

CV BUILDING STARTS NOW

• Use your CV as a starting point to highlight your skills and how you use them day-to-day

• Regularly see how your skills compare to the types of jobs or career you may be interested in●

• ●Talk to peers, teachers and careers advisors to help identify where you can improve

• ●Take steps to get experience in the areas where you may be lacking

• ●Remember a CV is never complete. As you get more experience, keep adding to it as you go

QUICK TIPS ON CV BUILDING

You can look at any aspect of your life: sports = teamwork, cadets = leadership, church = caring skills etc and any combination of those and myriad other things you have done between education and sleeping. The key is to focus on the skills, not the overall activity.

- Threeportdrift, The Student Room

I had no work experience when I wrote my first CV (I was 16) but I...managed to get a job in a little local cafe because they needed staff. I said I had good social, communication and team working skills.”

- Caitlinnnmay, The Student Room

When I finished uni, seven of my 10 previous positions were voluntary. It did not hinder my job application process at all as what my future employees were really interested in was the skills and experience I gained, not whether I got paid for it or not.

- Fallen_Acorns, The Student Room

Remember, a CV is an advert for an interview, not a job. It needs to provide enough incentive to the reader for them to think ‘I want to know more about this person’.

- ByEeek, The Student Room


The Student Room

If you have no experience currently, emphasise both your qualifications and other activities like hobbies etc. Additionally, consider volunteer work as well. It’s all about how you portray your experiences and voluntary work can offer some interesting experiences to write about.

- Grim-Squeaker, The Student Room

A CV is a crucial part of any recruitment process. When done well, it can help you stand out from the crowd and secure a dream job.

But a CV is a lot more than just two sides of paper which you put in front of future employers; it can also be useful way of keeping track of your achievements and key skills, highlighting what you are good at but also areas that may need a bit more focus moving forward.

The sooner you start a CV, the quicker you start thinking about what steps you need to take to achieve your goals.

- Liz Holford Careers adviser University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

The Student Room

MAKING YOUR NEXT MOVE AFTER SCHOOL OR COLLEGE

As a school or college leaver today, you’re presented with more potential avenues into the workplace than ever before. Degrees, apprenticeships and jumping straight into a job are all options with each having their own pros and cons.

It would be easy to just go with the flow, but if you were the sort of person to do that, you wouldn’t be reading this book. Taking some time to think about all your options is well worth it.

Try to focus on your future. Ask yourself where you want to be in five, 10, 15 years time. No idea? Think about what you enjoy and what careers relate to those skills, knowledge or experience.

Then, look at what you will need to achieve those goals and what support is on offer along the way. For instance, if you opt for a degree, does your university provide placements as part of the course?

By taking time to choose the option that suits you best, you can confidently expect to reap the rewards for years to come.

WEIGHING UP THE OPTIONS

• ● ●Look at all the options available and how they will help you achieve your goals

• ● Consider the pros and cons of each

• ● Research what ongoing support each of the options will give you

• ● Seek advice from the people who keep asking “what’s next?”

• ● Take your time before making your decision

• ● Don’t be afraid of changing your mind

QUICK TIPS TO HELP YOU CONSIDER YOUR NEXT MOVE

I wasn’t too sure of what to do with my life and at the time didn’t want to continue studying, so I started working in a small store. After about a year I started with door-to-door sales until I started to work at a cinema.

- Sebastian Hall, studying entertainment technology

I was planning to go to the University of Bath and study psychology. But when I was about to go, I realised I wasn’t really interested in that. I talked to family and friends who thought I was really silly to decline my offer as it’s a great uni to go to. But it was because I was thinking long-term about my career.

- Jenny Dallas, studying a degree apprenticeship in business leadership and management

I think it’s okay to not have a clear end goal, especially if you’re A-level age. It’s not a bad thing if you don’t know yet because you do still have time to figure it out. I always struggled when it came to picking my options, because it was a matter of getting a balance. There’s pressure from your parents to get a job that actually earns you money, but then there’s also doing something you actually want to do and are actually interested in.

- James Thompson, president, University of Portsmouth students’ union


The Student Room

With so many options available after school or college, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with all the different choices..

It’s important to focus on your individual situation. Try to work out what sort of career would suit you best, what skills and qualifications are needed for that career and and the place that will offer you the best training ground.

We always advise that talking this through to someone you trust - whether that’s a parent, a friend or a teacher - is a good idea, as it will give you the chance to talk through all the options. But when it comes to making a decision, remember to stay true to yourself and do what feels right for you.

- Janet Woolnough Careers adviser University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

The Student Room

DEGREE OR APPRENTICESHIP – WHICH ONE WILL GET YOU A JOB?

For a lot of people, continuing education after school means going to university. That’s not the only option though – there are plenty of other choices from vocational qualifications to apprenticeships.

The route you choose can depend on lots of things, but it’s worth asking yourself which one will get you a job.

For some people, a degree is absolutely the right path to take. It gives you the chance to focus on studying full-time while developing a range of skills outside of the classroom. Work placements are increasingly common. And degrees still remain the gold standard for many employers; without one, a number of careers are off the table.

But many people may find that a degree apprenticeship or higher apprenticeship will get them where they want to go more quickly. This works well if you find an employer that you want to work for and is prepared to invest in you. Plus there’s the added bonus of being paid while you study.

The choice between degree or degree apprenticeship is not necessarily about finding a job. It’s much more a question of deciding what sort of job you want to do, then plotting out the best route to get there.

And remember, it’s never too late to change your mind.

STUDYING CHOICES

• ●Make a list of the types of jobs you want to do. Then research what it would take to achieve your ultimate career goal

• ●Consider your lifestyle - do you want the uni experience of living away from home, meeting new people and independent studying; or do you want to go straight into the world of work with studying on the side?

• ●Compare your possible options listing advantages and disadvantages of each one

• ●Talk to people around you and ask them their opinion

• ●Look into available courses. There are still far more degree courses than degree apprenticeships available

• ●Make a decision for the right reasons. Don’t just pick a certain path because that is what all your friends are doing

• ●Follow your gut. It may seem scary but life is all about making decisions

QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DEGREES AND APPRENTICESHIPS

It ultimately depends on what you want to do in the future. If you want to go into medicine or dentistry, university would be the recommended route; but if you want to do something vocational at university, then apprenticeships would be the better option.

- Squirrology, The Student Room


In some cases, a job would be the best route. Committing to a three-year degree is a long time if you don’t know what you want to do. But any job I want needs a degree, it doesn’t really matter what it is in.

- Will Plumb, studying maths

You shouldn’t hesitate about going down the route of a subject that you’re passionate about. Go to uni, get the qualifications and have a go – don’t play it safe and spend the rest of your life wondering ‘what if’. Life’s not long enough to leave it to chance.


For me, I chose the degree apprenticeship because I thought it would make me more employable and, to some degree, it does. However, you have to choose the path which is right for you as a learner. If you don’t know the answer then pick uni and know that you can always change your mind.

- afjwholli, The Student Room

The Student Room

We know that students want a lot more from university than just a degree which is why we do everything we can to ensure we offer a range of learning experiences to suit them.

All of our degrees are focussed on making sure you will graduate with real-life experience of work, with placements built into most courses that we offer. This means that by the final year, you will have a head start on those at other universities.

For those of you that may not want to commit to full-time studying then degree apprenticeships are a good alternative, although we always recommend that you do your research on the proposed sponsor before deciding on that route.

The key thing is for you to think about what you want and then decide on a path which will help you achieve your goals.

- Mike Punt Director of learning at work University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

This was a no brainer for me because I can earn while I learn. The bonus is that students come out of uni just having an education whereas this gives you a good insight into the working world as well. When I graduate, I’ll be 22 with a degree and five years’ work experience.

- Tom Colbeck, studying a degree apprenticeship in business leadership and management

The Student Room

Ask any graduate and they’ll tell you that university flies by. Make the most of your time there and you’ll be glad of it.

Although getting stuck into your course is important, you’ll find plenty of other valuable things to do. In recent years, universities have been busy improving the services they offer their students to make them more employable.

That means things like better careers services, more sandwich courses and a greater focus on developing practical skills that will be used in the workplace. These things are available pretty much anywhere – although the level of service may vary. Make use of them while you’re there; this kind of support is a major perk of going to uni.

To further increase your employability, use the time and freedom to try out new things. Volunteering, societies and sports clubs are all excellent chances to learn new skills, make friends and make that CV stand out from the crowd.

MAKING THE MOST OF UNIVERSITY

• ●Don’t let your studies slide

• Use the support on offer - from lecturers to careers advice, placement officers to counsellors, the staff are there to help you

• Get some work experience. If you can get a placement through the course then even better

• ●Use your freedom to try new things and learn new skills

• Start networking and building contacts - the more people you know, the more chance you have of landing a good job after graduation

• ●Enjoy yourself - you’re unlikely to get this opportunity again in your life

QUICK TIPS ON GETTING THE MOST OUT OF UNIVERSITY

The person that you are going into university is very different from the person coming out of university. You find out a lot about yourself. You’ll discover other interests, other things that might help your career development.


[Even] if you don’t fit in at high school, [uni is] a much different environment. You don’t get pressured into doing homework - you’re in control of what you want to do.


While university has been great for laying the theoretical groundwork, being out in the workplace has provided a great opportunity to take that theory and the research skills you learn and put them to use.

- Leanne Bisatt, studying international development studies

Getting a placement was really important. At our uni it’s pushed quite hard – every faculty has a placement office where they help you get access to companies. I believe it genuinely adds value to your degree in a way nothing else would.

- Angel Layer, vice president (education and democracy), University of Portsmouth students’ union


The Student Room

I spent a year on work placement between my second and third year at university. Looking at jobs now, it makes a big difference. I’ve got a lot more to talk about in interviews now, and it would be a lot more difficult otherwise.

- Vicky White, marketing and psychology

University isn’t just a place for academic learning, it is all about self discovery too. Employers are keen to hear what you have learnt about yourself, as much as your subject area; learning what you are good at, taking the opportunity to develop skills and exploring different career paths, which may help with your graduate job decisions.

All of this can be done through volunteering whilst at university. You would be amazed at what you can learn, the friends you can make and how confident you can become by volunteering for a few hours per week. You will be giving something back to the city you have chosen to study in and building your CV in preparation for a competitive graduate labour market. What’s not to like?”

- Jane Howe Student and graduate opportunities manager University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

MAKE YOUR UNIVERSITY CHOICE PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN

Picking your ideal university is a difficult choice. But, if you do it right, then it could really pay off in the long run.

Glossy university prospectuses will often focus on research, student life and famous alumni. All of them will talk a good game about their graduates’ employment prospects.

Yet universities take different approaches on improving students’ skills, helping them become more employable, and providing relevant experience for the workplace. If you want to succeed after graduating then all of these skills will matter to future employers.

So rather than picking a course based on its reputation, it’s worth doing some research into how your future university will work for you in the long-term. For instance, the average University of Portsmouth graduate earns £3,100 (13%) above expectations five years after they finish their course. For those graduates, university really does pay off. But what’s the secret?

Here’s what Portsmouth students had to say about their university and how the experience proved valuable when taking the first steps in their career.

THE LONG GAME

The Student Room

GREAT TEACHING

Our course leaders were really positive. They were keen to reset the workplace – they wanted us to feel as though what we were doing was work, and they wanted us to focus on the environment we were working in. That was really useful.

- John Kenning, studying biomedical science

VALUABLE WORK PLACEMENTS

Having a year’s work experience in the ‘real world’ can be crucial to getting the job, as it shows you can do more than pass exams. Placements are such a great idea as they give you a whole new skill of adapting to an office environment. That’s what I liked at Portsmouth as the emphasis and support is as much on helping you prepare for a career after university as getting a good degree.

- Charlie Wills, studying mathematics with statistics

TOP NOTCH FACILITIES

Look at the extra things your uni does, particularly if you want to work in the business world. We now have four buildings with space for small businesses.

- Amy Doyle, studying a Master’s in law and support officer at University of Portsmouth’s Female Entrepreneurs Network

REAL EXPERIENCE

I noticed for digital marketing they need creative skills..., as well as the general theoretical things. The course had all of that – I learned Adobe, I learned graphic design, I learned how to build websites, I learned how to build apps. So when it comes to applying for jobs, I can say I do have experience in those things because I got involved in societies doing stuff on the side, doing their marketing for them.


The Student Room

EXCELLENT CAREERS SUPPORT

It’s refreshing to know that they are part of the uni and work a lot more closely than an outside recruitment agency. You feel as though you can afford to be much more open and honest with them because you know they’re on your side.

- Vicky White, studying marketing and psychology

CARING SUPPORT STAFF

I’d never been away from home and I expected to struggle in the first couple of weeks but it hit me hard. I didn’t really fit in. They offered me all the help and support I needed. They really helped me out with finding my feet and helping me move on from the first year which was horrible. They’ve literally got the most amazing team – counsellors, advisors, people who only work with students – it’s easier to access than the NHS and they coordinate with your course. It was amazing.


We offer an outstanding and distinctive student experience, with a focus on career enhancing activities and embedding innovative technology in courses designed to prepare students for successful careers.

Across the university, students learn in state-of-the-art facilities as used in industry and the professions with our programmes of study shaped by input from employers and our students.

At the University of Portsmouth we get to know our students, we work out what support they need and then we provide it. For some it will be one-to-one tuition, for others it will be more assistance with mathematics and for others it will be more general support around their well-being.

- Professor Graham Galbraith Vice-chancellor University of Portsmouth

EXPERT VIEW...

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

In my second year I volunteered as strength and conditioning secretary at Portsmouth rugby club. That helped me get a placement at Portsmouth Grammar in my third year and after I finished uni they took me on.

- Marcus Campopiano, exercise and sports science graduate

TURNING LEARNING INTO EARNING

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