As well as your degree, work experience and development opportunities can really help give you an advantage in the world of work. There are a range of initiatives available to help you get that edge!
Download an interactive work experience framework pdf
Browse opportunities on MyJobsOnline you can also search events and book appointments with the Careers team.
Enhance your degree and University experience by participating in the many extracurricular opportunities available to students at Reading by using our handy Opportunities Timeline
Placements
A valuable and sometimes essential part of your degree, work placements provide an opportunity for you to apply your transferable skills and contextualise your academic knowledge in a real work setting while gaining an insight into the way organisations operate and the challenges they face.
A Professional Placement Year is available on many of our Undergraduate degree programmes or there may be the flexibility to convert to one if your programme allows. Some placements will be paid, others may be voluntary. There is support and training available to students to help you secure your placement.Benefits Include:
- transferable skills
- put academic learning into context
- gain hands-on experience working on real projects in a professional environment
- possibility of job offer before finishing placement.
Curricular placements
All undergraduate programmes and some postgraduate programmes have an optional placement module available unless you are undertaking a professionally accredited degree where you’ll be required to undertake professional training throughout your studies. Placement options can vary in length and can take place during semesters or during summer vacations.
Learn more about Placements and refer to RISIS and your school regarding placement modules.
Benefits Include:
- transferable skills
- possibility of job offer before finishing placement
- put academic learning into context
- gain hands-on experience working on real projects in a professional environment
Internships
An internship will give you valuable work experience that employers look for when they're hiring graduates. It shows proactivity and dedication to bettering your career prospects, but also will provide you with valuable on-the-job experience.
Aim to complete an internship during your studies. They do not need to be related to your discipline - use internships to explore sectors and organisations that might be of interest to you in the future. Many employers offer paid internship opportunities. Living cost bursary support may be provided for extracurricular, unpaid internships.
Benefits Include:
- transferable skills
- experience working on real projects in a professional setting
- demonstrates proactivity/dedication
Reading Internship Scheme
Paid, professional work experience and the chance to develop your transferable skills. Part time internships during semesters and full-time during vacations. This is extracurricular and cannot be counted towards your degree modules.
Benefits Include:
- paid
- transferable skills
- experience working on real projects in a professional setting
Learn more on gaining work experience with Reading Internship Scheme
Bright Network Virtual Internships
Take part in 3-day virtual internship experiences where you can choose from 8 key sectors and connect with world leading employers.
Benefits Include:
- enhance CV
- gain experience and develop skills
Red Awards
The Reading Experience and Development (RED) Awards are the official Skills Awards at the University of Reading. Each award involves earning 25 points from a variety of eligible activities outside your academic programme
Benefits Include:
- develop your skills
- stand out from the crowd
Learn more about gaining experience with RED Awards
Campus Jobs
The University’s one-stop shop for all part time and temporary work at the University both on campus and online.
Benefits Include
- paid work
- gain experience that fits around your studies
Learn more about gaining part-time work with Campus Jobs
Forage
Forage offers virtual experience programmes designed by leading companies. Gain a real understanding of different roles and sectors by working through self-paced modules, with tasks similar to those undertaken during a traditional internship.
Benefits Include:
- develop skills
- understanding of roles and sectors.
Access virtual experience programmes with Forage
GoinGlobal
GoinGlobal is an amazing resource for anyone looking to travel for work or study. GoinGlobal will be useful for UK students looking to find work or study abroad, or international students seeking work or study in their home country or elsewhere in the world.
Benefits Include:
- transferable skills
- develop or build on language skills
- experience different cultures
- the experience can be both life enriching and career enhancing
Access GoinGlobal for your international job or study search
Leadership Roles
According to recent research, 62% of employers say that they look for graduates with practical management and leadership skills. Undertaking a Leadership role during your time at Reading provides you with a chance to develop your leadership style in advance of graduating.
PAL Leader
PAL Leaders facilitate the learning of students and help guide them through the module by heading activities and group discussions in weekly sessions. PAL Leaders do not teach, lecture or give out the answers. They help students feel comfortable sharing and learning from each other. Full training is provided.
Benefits Include:
- develop real-life transferable skills
- presentation skills and self-confidence
- facilitation, coaching and time-management skills
- demonstrates altruism
- it counts towards the Red Award
Learn more about becoming a PAL Leader
Representation (course reps/sabs)
Nominate yourself for: Full-time Officers, PG & UG Student Voice Members, PG Senior Reps and Course Reps, UG Senior Reps and Course Reps, Part-time Officers, Student Trustees, and Sports and Society Committees.
Some roles are paid, and some are voluntary.
Benefits Include:
- develop real-life transferable skills
- presentation skills and self-confidence
- time-management
- network and build relationships
Networking
Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting. Networking can widen your circle of professional acquaintances, highlight job opportunities and keep you abreast of news and trends in your chosen field.
Thrive Mentoring
Connect with a professional mentor and talk through your career plans and aspirations, as well as getting practical help with CVs and interview prep! Thrive is a career mentoring scheme for those of you who are in the penultimate-study-year of your undergraduate degree or select post-grad departments.
Benefits Include:
- a year of collaboration with a professional
- test your aspirations and talk through ideas
- honest insights from professionals who have been in your position
- build networks
- boost career knowledge
Learn more about Thrive Mentoring
Insight days and sessions
Insight days allow you to gain insights into how a firm works. Meet and chat to everyone from trainees through to partners, as well as the graduate recruitment team. Throughout the year, external organisations host a range of events that are brilliant opportunities to develop your career, skills and employability.
Benefits Include:
- gain valuable insights with a small investment of time
- build professional networks
Volunteering
There is often a great deal more to volunteering than you might think. Volunteering can be defined as working for the benefit of others and developing personal skills, without monetary gain.
RED Awards
RED Awards can support you in finding volunteering opportunities. From one-off volunteering days to longer-term, there are a range of opportunities available throughout the year.
Benefits Include:
- gain experience
- try something new
- stand out from the crowd
Learn more about the RED Awards
External volunteering
There are a huge range of volunteering opportunities outside of the University to investigate. Alongside finding your own, we update our page regularly with available opportunities.
Benefits Include:
- transferable skills
- often flexible
- demonstrates commitment and altruism
Discover the Latest volunteering opportunities
Reading Student's Union
RSU have a range of volunteering opportunities from student-led projects, external charity projects and challenges.
Benefits Include
- transferable skills
- often flexible
- demonstrates commitment and altruism
Volunteering opportunities via Reading Students’ Union
STAR Mentoring
STAR Mentors are current students that are committed to helping others and genuinely want to make a difference to a new student’s start at the University of Reading. Open to UG, IFP and PG International students.
Benefits Include:
- gain volunteer experience
- opportunity to help others
- transferable skills
- hours count towards the RED Award