Written Report - Worksheet

Please complete the Written Report worksheet and include it in the Portfolio section of your
ePortfolio)

Topic: Discuss some of the things that you could do to enhance your employability when you
graduate from University.

Start 500 word report here

It is a universally known fact that at university, you get out, what you put in. Most would say its
only about getting the best possible grade in your subjects. However the truth is there are much
more both mental and physical steps you can take to be more employable in your time at
university. These will make you a more attractive candidate for your dream job.

It is undeniable that a grade point average in your degree can have a significant impact on your
candidacy, however this is only the surface of what employers desire in an employee. Your
professional identity such as your personality and values are what will bring them over the line
about you. The big five model of personality traits and important tool to use. Practicing being
conscientious, extroverted, agreeable, emotionally stable and open-minded at university, will
help it come more naturally in your professional work life and will make you more employable.

Values are also an important part of an employees professional identity. Having strong values
and work ethic will help employers understand who you are (Coetzee, M., and D. Schreuder.
2011.). Exercising values such as honesty, reliability and passion in your work will shine
through in your interview and make you a stand out. Employers want an employee that is want a
combination of skills, knowledge and a wiliness to evolve these with the business.

Getting physically involved with university by building your personal experiences is the also a
big part of being more employable. Taking opportunities such as internships, exchanges and
volunteering at university, will push your comfort zone and be more open to new experiences in
the future (Feather, N. T., and Bond, M. J. 2017.). This will prepare for situations such as
interviews and meetings with clients at work as you will be more comfortable in new situations.
It will also look great on your resume as it is a talking point at interviews. It shows that you
have made connections, applied knowledge outside of university, shows potential employers
your work ethic and skills to offer for future employability.

With technology advancing, employers are likely to try and find out about potential employees
via networking websites (Kluemper, D, H., and Rosen. P, A. 2017.). Therefore developing your
online professional profile and network is another way to make you more employable.
Consistently developing and updating your networking profiles such as LinkedIn or twitter will
help to build connections with potential employers and make it easier for employers to learn
more about you.

Students can do a variety of different things to help them be more attractive to employers when
graduating from university. Being mentally and physically prepared while maintaining a good
grade point average at university will make you a stand out to employers. Mental and physical
practices such as developing your professional identity and making use of the opportunities
such internships and exchanges throughout university will prepares you for the challenges
ahead.

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References
FEATHER, N. T., and M. J. BOND. "Time Structure And Purposeful Activity Among
Employed And Unemployed University Graduates." N.p., 2017. Web. 26 Aug. 2017.

Kluemper, D, H., and Rosen. P, A. "Future Employment Selection Methods: Evaluating Social
Networking Web Sites | Journal Of Managerial Psychology | Vol 24, No
6." Emeraldinsight.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Aug. 2017.

Coetzee, M., and D. Schreuder. "The Relation Between Career Anchors, Emotional Intelligence
And Employability Satisfaction Among Workers In The Service Industry." Volume 15, Issue 3,
Jan 2011, p. 76 - 97 Journals.co.za. N.p., 2017. ,
Web. 28 Aug. 2017.