What is Employability?

"By 'employability' we mean a set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that make individuals more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations … many of the employability skills that employers are seeking can only be learned in 'real life' situations, even on a temporary basis such as work placements."
Brenda Little, writing for the Higher Education Academy 2005.

Remember, there is always competition for the best graduate jobs and a qualification is just part of the package that employers look for.

Impress future employers

Gaining new skills and experience is vital to impress employers and enhance your employability. Employability is having the skills and qualities to make the best of university, to find work and develop your career.

Develop a range of skills while at university

Southampton Solent University has a range of exciting opportunities available for students to develop their employability. There are many links with business and industry, placements, help with funding, up to date facilities and more.

It's up to you to get involved and make the most of your time here. You can broaden your experience, develop confidence, gain skills, maximise your potential, acquire business experience and learn to sell yourself. Find out more - take a look at myFuture the University's employability guide. Do not put off gaining these vital employability skills.

Boost your chances of success

Get involved with something extra – be it volunteering, the mentoring programme, work experience, a Students' Union society, being a course representative or playing sports. Any of these will give your CV something extra to make you stand out from the crowd.

Remember - CareerBox is your employability website! 

This online resource is designed to boost your employability and improve future job prospects, and is structured around themes of self awareness, opportunity awareness, decision making, application and selection:

http://careerbox.solent.ac.uk (You will need to log in)

"Through our recruitment process we look for graduates who can bring more to the table than academic knowledge alone. Typically the graduates who shine have work or life experience which differentiates them."
Gaynor Sykes, Graduate Resourcing Manager, Vodafone UK