This article was originally published on 5 March 2023 in The Courier, Newcastle University’s student newspaper. It applies to all students studying any degree programme.

When I first came to university, I was quite reluctant to make use of university services such as MyCareer, but I’ve now grown to realise that it has a lot to offer that I shouldn’t turn down. 

Firstly, MyCareer is a brilliant tool to find work experience. Whether it’s a part time job to earn some cash on the side, or an internship to gain valuable insights into a particular industry, the vacancy directory is extremely useful. 

At the start of this academic year, I realised I had an interest in marketing, but I have never experienced working in a marketing role. I used MyCareer to find an NCL Internship and applied for five different ones. In the end, I was successfully placed on a term-time internship, and I couldn’t be happier. 

Internships are a great way to try out a role and there’s no pressure for you to be perfect at it straight away. You get plenty of support throughout – and you get paid!

Even if you are not successful, it is still so worthwhile to apply and practice attending interviews. I have learnt so much from all the interviews I had to do, even if I wasn’t successful. It’s also a great way to build your confidence.

When looking for a vacancy on MyCareer, there are a number of filters you can use to pinpoint what you’re looking for. I put ‘NCL Internship’ as a key word, but you can even choose a specific company, location or type of employment. It’s not limited to Newcastle!

I have also used MyCareer to book one-to-one appointments with the university careers service. The careers consultants are so supportive and can offer advice on a wide range of queries. Whether you need help with your CV or just a general chat about any worries you have, I really recommend booking an appointment, which can be in person or on Teams. 

I went to one of my appointments completely unsure what to do and left feeling much more reassured, knowing what my next steps would be, and I was also provided with some further resources that came in very handy.