Did you know that students at IDS (and graduates for up to three years) have access to a range of skills development opportunities and careers support during their time with us? This includes a regular careers drop-in session with Helen Gorman, Careers and Employability Consultant at the University of Sussex. In this blog post, Helen shares with us some of the top queries she receives from students in the drop-in sessions.
How do I make the most of my time at IDS and build my experience in international development?
There are lots of opportunities to make the most of your time at IDS and get involved on campus and in the local Brighton community. IDS students build experience in many different ways. Some students volunteer with local grassroots community groups and charities, and the wider Brighton community has lots of opportunities to get involved and build key core skills for development.
Networking is important when building a development career, and IDS students benefit from having access to both the IDS alumni network and broader University of Sussex networks. Some students take on short-term consultancy projects and do internships with larger national and international organisations.
There are many opportunities at IDS and Sussex through careers events, fairs, alumni panels and networking to build connections, learn about the sector and further your career. IDS students have access to careers resources and support through the Student Hub while studying and for three years after graduation.
What is the best way to structure my CV to make it attractive to prospective International Development employers?
Having a clear message and identity is key to writing a CV. Think of your CV as a marketing document where you are promoting your relevant key skills and experience to employers. It is important that your CV looks professional and highlights all the main points you want an employer to know about you.
In the UK, its generally common for a CV to be no more than two pages long, and it should have sections describing your previous education and work. Make sure to use clear headings and bullet points to highlight your experience in a structured way. IDS students have access to our CV checker and careers resources using the Student Hub.
How do I find a job? I am looking for a part-time job while I study as well as a job when I finish my master’s degree.
Some students like to get a part-time job to support their studies or to build experience and skills, and there is lots of help to do this. We run an annual student jobs and volunteering fair at the start of the autumn term with local recruiting employers advertising opportunities.
All students have their own career dashboard on CareerHub to search for part-time job vacancies on and off campus and to book into careers events and appointments. Students can also look at careers information about part-time work via the Careers pages on the Student Hub.
Students work both on and off campus in various part-time roles including administration, shops, bars and cafes. Brighton is a large tourist town and many of the part time roles support the local tourism industry.
Students also often ask for support to find a job in development once they’ve finished their degree. During termtime, I run a face-to-face careers drop-in at IDS each week, and longer appointments can be booked through the CareerHub (see dates for the current term below). I can help with advice on everything from CV writing and applications, thinking about what comes next, interviews, further study and general job searching advice.
Face-to-face careers drop-ins with Helen take place in the IDS Study Space this term, with dates and times listed below:
- Wednesday 29 January 13:00 – 14:00
- Wednesday 5 February 12:00 – 13:00
- Wednesday 12 February 13:00 – 14:00
- Wednesday 26 February 13:00 – 14:00
- Wednesday 5 March 12:00 – 13:00
If you would like to meet with Helen for a 10-minute chat, you will need to come just before the session begins to sign up for a slot. This is to help avoid disappointment as slots are limited.
Please also keep an eye out for upcoming careers talks in IDS!
You can also read Al Scott’s informative blog post with tips on how to get a job in international development.
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