{"id":9001,"date":"2021-04-20T09:04:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T08:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/?p=9001"},"modified":"2021-04-20T09:04:28","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T08:04:28","slug":"o-is-for-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/o-is-for-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"O is for\u2026 Opportunities!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2018Opportunity is missed by most because it\u2019s dressed in overalls and looks like work\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Read that again. It\u2019s so true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your life is a series of decisions, a series of opportunities. Some big, some small. Recently, I\u2019ve been reading Matt Haig\u2019s \u2018Midnight Library\u2019 which talks all about the different lives we could lead depending on the opportunities we take. One of the opportunities I\u2019ve taken in this recent lockdown is to read more*. I\u2019ve really enjoyed learning new things, allowing my mind to imagine characters, and using the new knowledge at work and in social conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What opportunities have you taken recently that you\u2019ve enjoyed?<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At University, it sometimes feels like an overwhelming number of opportunities; all the societies and clubs you could join, all the social events you could attend, and that\u2019s before you even consider your studying; when the more you learn, the more you realise you don\u2019t know, and there are endless opportunities for research and further engaging in your topic. So how do you know what opportunities to take, and which to leave? It\u2019ll be entirely different for each person. Definitely have the end goal in mind though \u2013 is what your doing going to help along your journey towards your chosen career? Is it something you\u2019re going to enjoy? Will it add something to your CV?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What opportunities have you taken or not taken that you\u2019ve regretted?<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, we have to say no. We can\u2019t do everything, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t feel right to step into a given direction, or take on something extra. Sometimes we later wish we\u2019d said yes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equally, sometimes we say yes before we think about the time and effort and commitment of saying yes. We forget that capacity matters too, and we later wish we\u2019d said \u2018not right now\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are three quick opportunities which I\u2019d thoroughly recommend you consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Volunteering.<\/a> This is so important to build your CV whilst you\u2019re at Uni, and helps provide you with transferable skills which you can use as examples in interviews. It doesn\u2019t have to take over your life \u2013 you could do 1 hour a week as a Telephone Befriender. That shows commitment, communication, time management\u2026 you could do ad-hoc volunteering, like providing feedback on a new website design for a charity. That shows ability to critique and attention to detail. You could help at a foodbank; teamwork, numeracy\u2026 need I go on? Also, make sure you log your volunteering hours on the above link to earn certificates!<\/li>
  2. One-to-one Careers Advice Appointments<\/a>. These are free and available to all current students, and for those up to 3 years post-graduation. There is no limit on how many you can have, and they are such a useful resource for you to get help with your future plan and direction, and just check in to see what you can be doing to help yourself with your next steps. They\u2019re completely individual to you, they\u2019re online, and I really recommend you take advantage of these. You can book using the above link, or click here<\/a> to find out more about them.<\/li>
  3. Find out what you don\u2019t know! Did you know we have workshops? Did you know you can apply for bursary funding through the WEF? Do you know everything we offer? Watch this video<\/a>, and check you\u2019re not missing out on a single opportunity you don\u2019t know about.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    *if you also want to read more, I recommend Libby (free Library app).<\/a> You can sign in with your CCCU library membership AND your local council membership, and enjoy a range of reading and audiobooks for FREE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Getting further support from The Careers and Enterprise Team at CCCU<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You can get ongoing careers support via the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n