Developing the specialist knowledge and skills that you need to embark on your dream career is one thing, but standing out to employers in 2023 is another. This is why a focus on employability is becoming increasingly important in higher education.
In an ever-evolving job market, turning a degree into a successful career has become a focal point for students who want to develop real-world skills alongside their academic learning.
Liverpool Hope University is committed to ensuring its students and graduates are equipped to thrive in the workplace, providing a myriad of support and opportunities to help students and graduates achieve their professional aspirations.
The University’s Careers and Employability team offers personalised, impartial and expert advice on everything from CV writing, to gaining valuable experiences through volunteering, placements and internships, as well as offering a full programme of career enhancement events to complement your studies.
“The University really helped me get that job”
Accounting and Finance graduate, Jake May, reaped the rewards of Liverpool Hope’s focus on employability.
He benefited from a host of events, guest lectures and training days which helped him secure a role as an audit trainee at the renowned accountancy firm, MHA Moore and Smalley, after graduating with a First in the summer of 2023.
He explained: “I got the job after being nominated for the University’s Insight to Business Awards. The firm invited me to an assessment centre for their graduate scheme and I was successful.
“The University really helped me get that job. At the awards, I was able to build connections with people from accountancy firms and those little things make a difference.
“In my second year, we had a lot of training days where companies would come in and show you what to expect at an assessment centre.
“That really helped when I interviewed at Moore and Smalley because I was comfortable throughout and felt like I knew what I needed to do.”
Now in its seventh year, Liverpool Hope Business School’s Insight to Business Awards gives students the chance to network with representatives from leading local and national businesses, with companies sponsoring the awards in the form of a professional placement.
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Liverpool Hope offers all students the opportunity to add a placement year to their degree and work with a range of organisations to provide internship and placement opportunities.
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As a Liverpool Hope student, you will have access to My Career Centre, which is full of resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals.
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The University offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award and its Service and Leadership Award, which can help you to make your CV stand out from the crowd.
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Graduates can get career support for up to three years after they have completed their course.
“I’ve benefited from some brilliant placements”
For fellow 2023 graduate, Libby Hall, a series of work placements proved pivotal in helping her land two jobs after signing off on her studies with a First in sports rehabilitation.
The 21-year-old from Whitley Bay was required to complete 400 hours of placement hours as part of her course, with Liverpool Hope providing a dedicated placement coordinator to assist all sports rehabilitation students.
Libby took on roles at Newcastle Thunder Rugby League Club, the Italian team at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament and Escape Pain – a rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain.
She also had the opportunity to engage in a research scholarship investigating how different taping protocols impacted lateral ankle sprains in netball players.
All of that experience set her up for success as she landed a role as a Sports Therapist at Woolston Rovers Rugby League Club and Summit Physiotherapy Clinic in Wrightington, West Lancashire.
She said: “I have enjoyed playing sports since I was young and have always wanted to be a sports therapist, so to have secured two jobs in the industry is amazing.
“There is nothing better than working in a job you enjoy and I feel very fortunate to have studied at Liverpool Hope.
“My placements have helped massively. All of them increased my confidence and allowed me to see how different organisations operate in different settings, which was really valuable.
“I don’t think I would have got these jobs without those experiences because of the variety of the placements and also how good they were, particularly with two of them being with professional sports teams.”
Find out more about what Liverpool Hope University has to offer at their upcoming open days on October 7, October 28, November 18 and November 29. Book your place now.
