Preparing for Life After Uni - Portfolios, Job Hunting and a Healthy Dose of Audacity
What a pleasure and joy it was for me to record this episode with two other alumni of the University of Lancashire - my Alma Mater. My guests have finished their Business studies last July (2025) and were both successful in securing full-time positions soon after graduation - one as a Graduate Student Achievement Officer and the other as a Operations Graduate. I sat down with them to unpack what helped them be successful job candidates in a tough job market and I thank them once again for their generosity in sharing their experiences and advice with us all.
Pens at the ready! There is so much practical, tried-and-tested advice in this episode.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Say yes to opportunities before you feel ready because the truth is - you might never feel ready, said Rawan. The point of these opportunities is building the confidence you need.
Try to stand out. For Rawan, this meant turning her portfolio into a personal brand building exercise, instead of solely focusing it on the projects she completed. Rawan brought it with her to interviews and she advises to share it with organisations you’d like to work with.
Reach out to these organisations directly whether they have positions available or not. “Not for the sake of money or finding a job” adds Rawan “but just to work with them for the sake of learning. So I just asked if I can volunteer, if there's anything I can do just to get involved because I genuinely did believe in the work that they do. And I landed multiple roles [as a result].”
Emphasise transferrable skills and don’t write off part-time positions just because they seem irrelevant (such as barista, shop assistant). What matters most is how your articulate the skills you’ve gained and connect them to the role you’re applying for, explained Rawan.
Lois spoke about embracing the different opportunities that university offers. As a student, she was a Course Rep, did an international internship and joined the Students’ Union. “Putting my hand up and saying, yes, I will do it, meant that a lot of people would then actively find me out” which led to more learning and work opportunities for Lois.
Be active in meetings. Using your voice and sharing your ideas in student/university meetings prepares you for discussions with important stakeholders in a corporate environment, highlighted Lois.
While volunteering opportunities might be easily overlooked, they are incredible ways of gaining skills that will be valued in a professional context, post-graduation. Lois listed a few of the skills she gained as a volunteer: project management, content creation and social media management, understanding budgets, and teamwork/collaboration skills.
“What I would say is just get started, even if it's in your final year, your final month, just get started no matter where you are. And if you can't get a job, look for volunteering or shadowing opportunities, even email someone that inspires you and be like “Is it okay if I shadow you for two weeks just to learn from you?” Try to find a mentor.
Use the Career Services [provided by your university] as early as possible.” Rawan ElGindy, Graduate Student Achievement Officer, University of Lancashire
“The number one thing is to try and figure out where you want to go. Knowing your destination helps you plan out the journey a lot more. So for example, if you don't know at all what job you want to do, go and find someone on LinkedIn who has a job that really appeals to you, and see what got them to that position.
If you have no idea at all, go and take some career quizzes, speak to your friends and family [and ask them] “What do you think I'd be good at”?” Lois Turley, Operations Graduate at Sika
ABOUT LOIS TURLEY
Lois graduated from the University of Lancashire in July 2025 and has gone on to an Operations Graduate role.
While in university, she balanced her studies with hands-on experience in part-time roles, volunteering, an internship, and leadership roles.
Throughout that time, she focused on building practical skills, staying organised, and saying yes to opportunities that pushed her outside her comfort zone.
Those experiences prepared Lois for the job market and progressing in her future role.
Connect with Lois on LinkedIn
ABOUT RAWAN ELGINDY
From navigating life as an international student to becoming a Graduate Student Achievement Officer, Rawan’s career so far has been nothing short of impressive.
While studying International Business, Rawan also held positions in marketing, influencer management, student leadership, and brand development across both the UK and MENA region - with outstanding results (helped build a beauty brand from scratch, and managed an online community of 1.5M+ followers).
In her current role, Rawan supports University of Lancashire students through their academic journey, helping them navigate challenges, build confidence, and reach their goals.
Connect with Rawan on LinkedIn
CAREER COACHING for MARKETING PROFESSIONALS
(it’s what I do)
