Employability in Nottingham - in pictures

The Careers and Employability Service at The University of Nottingham is based in the Portland Building, at the heart of the campus – providing easy access to its range of facilities to all students at the University. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

The University of Nottingham’s Careers and Employability Service provides a comprehensive, lifetime service to graduates of the University. Graduate fairs, exclusive opportunities, mentoring, careers appointments and events are just some of the services on offer to students. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Taking part in activities with clubs and societies – such as appearing in theatrical performances – gives students many useful skills which can enhance employability - including confidence. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Universities offer many opportunities for gaining confidence, an important skill when it comes to graduate interviews. Performing in front of crowds at the University Open Day is an excellent way of enhancing confidence. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Having a part-time job at university greatly enhances employability, and equips students with yet more transferable skills. Many universities offer part-time work alongside study – The University of Nottingham’s recruitment agency, Unitemps, is a handy way of gaining experience in many areas of the institution. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Studying abroad drastically enhances a student’s employability – whether it’s for a semester, a year or a full degree. The University of Nottingham has campuses in China and Malaysia (pictured), as well as other schemes including ERASMUS and Universitas21. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Transferable skills, such as the ability to deliver effective presentations, are highly desirable to employers. All degrees at The University of Nottingham equip students with a multitude of transferable skills – a big competitive advantage when it comes to competing in the jobs market. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

There are various employability schemes on offer at universities in the UK. The Nottingham Advantage Award allows students to gain valuable experience in classrooms amongst the many other modules on offer. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Degrees across the UK differ greatly in their subject content – some are practical, others are theory based. The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at The University of Nottingham combines both, with real-world, hands-on experience from day one – especially important for those intending to work with animals.
Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Many universities offer placements as part of their degrees – important in many careers; in particular, teaching. Here, a postgraduate student at The University of Nottingham is teaching a pupil at the Nottingham University Samworth Academy. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Hands-on experience is important, and has the power to greatly enhance graduate employability. The students in this picture are measuring the depths of channels and mini-flood plains, and the effects of erosion on the scale model. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

World-class facilities allow students to utilise their skills and theory learned to gain experience and prepare for working in the real environment. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

It is important for students to gain real-world experience whilst undertaking their degree. Here, a Civil Engineering student surveys a building with industry-standard equipment on The University of Nottingham’s Malaysia Campus. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

There are a whole host of careers and graduate fairs throughout the academic year. Many global brands (including P&G pictured here) attend these events which are aimed at enabling students to plan for life after graduation. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Careers in management are highly desirable amongst graduates – with many global companies offering fast-track schemes. Nottingham is the 2nd most targeted university in the UK by leading graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2013). Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Graduate schemes are competitive, and only the most determined and employable students will gain entry onto the most competitive. The University of Nottingham has an internal graduate scheme, where graduates gain experience across a range of University departments. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Postgraduate study is an excellent option for those who wish to further their knowledge in a particular field – as well as providing potential employers with highly desirable qualifications such as Masters and PhD certificates. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Throwing the ‘mortarboard’ in the air is what every student is working towards – but in a lot of ways, this is just the beginning. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee

Students become part of a global community of alumni when they graduate – The University of Nottingham has over 225,000 graduates worldwide. Impact: The Nottingham Campaign is a philanthropic campaign aimed at changing lives globally, which many alumni have engaged with. Photograph: Phil Rowley and Lisa Gilligan-Lee