Employability
Preparing you for your future
Our approach focuses on:
- identifying the skills which can be developed and recorded
within your degree course
- providing job hunting and professional development workshops
via the Careers Centre and Learning and Development
- encouraging relevant activities and experience including
work placements, internships, volunteering and studying abroad.
The Big e
enrich your student experience and get more from your
essex degree
As you settle into your new life as a student at the University you will
start to notice the 'The Big
e' around
campus. You'll see it on posters, in emails, and hear it in conversation.
But what exactly is it? What does it mean, and why is it so important?
Being a graduate in itself is still a significant asset in the world of work.
Having a degree generally leads to greater earning potential, with graduates on
average earning £150,000 more during their career than non-graduates. But
having a degree alone is often not enough to secure the best jobs.
The Big e is many things. It's all the other stuff you get from
university life. Whenever and wherever you see the Big
e badge there will
be an opportunity to experience the world of work, to be enterprising and turn
dreams into reality, to enrich the knowledge and skills that employers value
most highly, and to engage with university life to the fullest.
Put simply: The Big e is about getting more from your
essex degree.
Visit www.essex.ac.uk/bige and look
out for related publicity.
Careers Centre
Our Careers Centre is a rich
source of information and advice. Careers advisors and information specialists
are available to give you valuable advice throughout your time at Essex and
beyond – as a graduate you can use the Centre's services for up to three years
after graduation.
We will offer you the following:
- one-to-one advice and guidance;
- providing job hunting workshops, employer presentations and
careers fairs;
- placement and internship schemes;
- dedicated international careers advisors;
- help with work-related issues such as National Insurance,
plus information on rights within the work place;
- JobsOnline vacancy service for graduate, part-time and
temporary jobs.
If you'd like further information, you can
find the careers
centre (and opening hours) or
contact us.
Frontrunners placement scheme
One of the best ways to enrich your Essex experience and develop your
employability profile is to get involved in the University's unique placement
scheme, Frontrunners. It will
give you the opportunity to undertake meaningful employment around campus and
develop the higher-level skills necessary to compete for the best jobs. The
scheme is open to all University of Essex students, offers on-the-job training,
and is paid. Placements are between one and three terms in length and up to 12
hours per week during term time and 20 hours per week over the summer.
Frontrunners will also help you to develop your ability to reflect on and
articulate the skills you have acquired. At the end of the last academic year,
100% of students involved in frontrunners said that they would recommend the
experience to a friend!
Professional Skills Development - Module IA700 (credit)
Developed in collaboration with the Careers Centre, this
employability module will help you develop knowledge and skills essential
for effective career choices and job applications, now and in the future.
This is a 10 week module delivered at Colchester campus during Autumn and Spring
Terms, please note that classes take place in the early evening .
Learning from Work - Module IA701 (credit)
Developed in collaboration with the Careers Centre, this
module allows you to gain credit from extra-curricular work experience
activities such as volunteering, part-time work and/or work placement. A
major part of coursework relates to the compilation of a reflective portfolio.