Overall, 94% of our graduates are in work or further study 6 months after graduating. (DLHE 2014 – HEFCE Employment Performance Indicator).

The range of employability support on offer from the Careers Centre includes:

• Professional careers consultants who can provide you with specialist and personalised advice, including CV-checking and mock interviews.
• Dedicated placements officers to support and train you in preparation for your placement.
• Student experience and development schemes to help you boost your employability. 
• Online resources, including free videos and assessment tools.
• A full events calendar to help you explore your options, build professional skills and meet employers.
• A dedicated recruitment service exclusively for University of Reading students – My Jobs Online. You can access this service from the September before you arrive giving you a headstart on finding a part-time job in the area.
• An onsite Job Shop to help you find part-time or vacation work.

Over 50% of our undergraduates choose to do a placement year as part of their degree; others carry out a shorter internship or gain work experience in their own time.

You'll receive placement training and support from both your Department and the Careers team. All placements are screened for suitability and safety, and you are fully insured by the University. Placements that are organised by the University are paid but if you find an unpaid opportunity there are bursaries available.

Your placement could be local, national or even international. Whether working for a top investment bank or law firm or volunteering in Africa – anything is possible.

You can take your placement as part of a module, a whole module or as part of a four-year course. A year in industry is often taken at the end of your second year. You can also work throughout the year or just during the holidays.

Paid summer schemes:

The Reading Internship Scheme (RIS) and The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP).

Student experience and development schemes:

Reading Experience and Development Award (RED), Students in Schools, Peer Support, STaR Mentoring Partnership, and Thrive Career Mentoring.

Where could I go?

You could travel to a range of countries, and our list of destinations is always growing. Popular choices include universities in Australia, Canada, USA and Europe.

You can spend as little as a few days or as long as a year in your chosen country. The options available to you will vary depending on your degree, but can include the following:

• A year abroad
• A semester abroad
• Work placements
• Summer schools
• Field trips.

You don't have to speak another language, but if you want to brush up your communication skills this is the perfect opportunity.

Find out more about this unique opportunity here.

In today's global society the ability to speak more than one language can be hugely beneficial, both on a personal and professional level. Knowledge of a second language can improve your career prospects and give you access to new cultures and experiences.

At Reading, every student has the option to study a foreign language through our Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP). You can choose from a wide range of different languages to learn, including Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, French, German, modern Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Moreover, you can do this in a number of different ways, whether as a part of your degree or for a modest fee.

Visit the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) website.

Job Shop

The University Job Shop, located right on campus, is the best place to find part-time and vacation work. Our friendly, professional staff can help you find a suitable job to match your skills and interests. We can also help with applications, CVs and interviews, whether you are looking for a part-time role, your first job or a more specialist role.

Visit the Job Shop website.

Part-time work in Reading

Reading has a large town centre just 25 minutes’ walk from campus, with two shopping malls, plus a busy high street with pubs, bars and restaurants. Not far from the heart of Reading, you’ll also find the Madejski Stadium; home to Reading FC and London Irish Rugby Club. If you want to work whilst you study, this is the ideal place to be.

These events provide you with opportunities to meet and speak to employers and recruitment specialists, perfect your interview skills and seek advice and guidance on how to make your CV stand out.

Careers Event Programme

Delivered by our professional Careers Consultants, employers and expert speakers, we offer four distinct areas within our programme that allow you to:

• Explore your options
• Build your employability skills and ace the recruitment process
• Build professional skills
• Meet employers

We also have a number of careers fairs, including:

• Part-Time Jobs Fair
• Careers & Placement Fair
• Law Careers Fair
• Construction Fair

Your department may also organise careers fairs to help you find graduate roles and placements

Recent events

'LinkedIn for beginners', 'Recruitment boot camp', 'Effective interviewing skills' and 'Making your CV work for you'.

To gain your RED Award you will need complete 50 hours of extra-curricular activities. These must include:

• Volunteering for a minimum of 10 hours
• Training and development for a minimum of 5 hours
• Core activities for a minimum of 35 hours. Activities can include more volunteering, work experience, paid work or an internship, or a combination of all of these.
• Open to all students at the University of Reading, the RED Award gives you the opportunity to gain new skills and demonstrate old. You will develop employability skills and learn to recognise your achievements, and we will teach you to consider your experiences from an employers' point of view.

Over 1100 students have completed the RED Award at Reading and many have gained further work - both paid and voluntary - through connections made during the award.

Benefits for international students: Great way to improve your language skills and mix with students from all years and other disciplines.

RIS

Internships allow you to sample a particular sector or career, develop and strengthen your skills, as well as build your professional network and contacts.

Examples of recent vacancies:

• Volunteer and Events Coordinator
• Sustainable Fashion and Design internship
• Marketing internship
• Estates Management intern

Thrive Career Mentoring Programme

This programme for second year students, pairs you with a University of Reading alumnus, who studied your subject and maybe your course. You will meet on a regular basis to discuss your future career ideas. Your mentor will support you in setting objectives and securing work placements.

Our mentors graduated a few years ago and are well-placed to offer advice on CV and cover letter writing, interview skills, and business etiquette.

Did you enjoy your internship?

It's been lovely and I've learnt a lot more than I originally thought I was going to learn. I have been given genuine responsibilities, including coordinating the different working groups within the office. It's been immensely rewarding overseeing everything as I know all the ins and outs of what is happening within the organisation.

Would you recommend the internship to other students?

Yes, it's good experience to add to your CV and you're also getting paid which is a bonus. I think it helps you with your degree - it raised my awareness of the variety of options open to me after my degree.