Published: 11 March 2021
One of the main reasons people decide to study for their degree is, of course, to increase their career prospects.
At the University of Sunderland in London, we know many of you have had jobs before starting your studies.
That could mean anything from running a home, working in shops, nursing, office work, managing your own business and much more.
So why consider coming to the University?
Well, whether you want to retrain, change career paths, or you’re looking to advance further in an industry, a degree is the best way to make a major change to your professional life.
The changing world of work
The job market needs an educated workforce more than ever before. Did you know that, during the last recession in 2008, 75% of the jobs people lost needed only a secondary school education as entry requirements for the roles?
That means most of the roles companies cut were so called ‘lower-skilled’ jobs, or ones which didn’t need a university degree.
As a result, a growing number of companies are requiring people to have at least an undergraduate certificate when applying for a post.
This trend is likely to continue as businesses become used to hiring university graduates.
Having a degree is a sure way of being able to compete for the top jobs.
Knowledge takes you further
Your degree is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of a particular subject.
This means, once you have finished your studies, you’ll be able to transfer that knowledge to your chosen industry.
At the University of Sunderland in London, all our degrees are career-focused. Meaning you’ll be learning skills that are directly useful for whatever industry you want to work in after you graduate.
Plus, just having a degree on your CV tells potential employers you care about enhancing your skills and keeping up to date with the industry.
That can be useful no matter what you’re doing but is particularly necessary if your experience so far is in a different area.
Making connections
We’ve mentioned before how important networking is when looking for a new job and growing your career.
University is the place to start building those networks because you’ll be studying with people who also want to work in your industry.
Your classmates, and lecturers, are all potential contacts that can help you move up in your field.
One practical step is to create a LinkedIn account and add your fellow students. You’ll start to see connections you didn’t expect and can take advantage of in your future career.
At the University of Sunderland in London, you’ll have access to the education that can help you meet your career goals.
There are also loads of extra activities to get involved with to help boost your CV. Check out the free courses run by Careers and Employability to get started. They’re here to help you get ready for life after graduation. To have a one-to-one chat with them, book a meeting through Compass.
Alternatively, you can email them at career-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.