Discuss some of the things that you could do to enhance your

employability when you graduate from University?

The two most valuable thing one can do to enhance their employability
when they graduate from university is to gain experience and develop
their employability skills. Getting a job straight out of university is very
competitive in some industries. In order to have the best chance at being
employed after your studies is by gaining experience and skills.
Experience is invaluable and many workplaces look for those with
experience in order to speed up the training process. Employability skills
are also very valuable as they are the basis of every good employee.

A central aim of higher education is employability, in order to enable

graduates to act in dynamic working environments (Feldmann, 2016).
Experience is one of the most sort after requirements for an individual
starting a new job. Yet how are you supposed to have three years
experience in a field you just graduated studying? The answer is part time
work and internships. It seems that part-time work is a useful avenue for
the development of graduate attributes and other desirable personal
qualities, and enhances students employability (Muldoon, 2009). Part
time work, even if it isnt in your chosen field, is still very beneficial as it
teaches you skills vital for employment. For example, teamwork and
communication skills are necessary for most jobs, and working part time
while studying, will help develop these skills. Internships are similar in a
way but are usually more in line with the area of work you want to go into.
They allow connections and networks to be made in the right industry for
you, as well as first hand experience in your chosen field. Internships as
the prevalent work-based learning (WBL) settings offer such an
opportunity during the studies; they are commonly used and broadly
researched as interventions to improve students' skills and competences
(Feldmann, 2016). Skills and knowledge will be gained from undertaking
an internship, which will be vital for initial employment into the industry.

Employability skills are vital to gaining employment, as stated by Wels,

Your employability skills provide the link between your academic studies
and graduate employment. Wels also provided her top 8 employability
skills, these include; communication, teamwork, problem solving, self
management, planning and organising, technology, learning, initiative and
enterprise (Wels, 2013). These skills can be developed in many different
ways, including naturally and intentionally. Naturally, when placed in
specific environments, these skills will develop on their own over time.
Although some areas may need more work than others and need to be
intentionally developed, training courses and workshops are available to
gain and enhance these skills. It has been argued that developing
employability skills is regarded as primarily the individual's responsibility
(Haasler, 2013). It is up to the individual to take initiative and develop,
maintain or build on these skills in order to have the competitive edge
when it come to employability.
In order to enhance employability after graduation, gaining work
experience and employability skills are vital. They are two of the most
highly sort after requirements in job vacancies. Therefore, your chances of
being employed after completing your studies is significantly increased if
you gain these.

Reference list

Feldmann, L. (2016). Considerations in the design of WBL settings to

enhance students' employability. Higher Education, Skills and Work -
Based Learning, 6(2), 131-145. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/1784
028420?accountid=14543
Haasler, S. R. (2013), Employability skills and the notion of self.
International Journal of Training and Development, 17: 233243
Muldoon, R. (2009). Active Learning in Higher Education, 10(3), 237-252
Wels, B. (2013). 8 essential employability skills. Career Ready. Retrieved 8
May 2017, from https://career-
ready.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/2013/08/16/8-essential-employability-
skills/