Welcome and Introduction

1. Reflect on Your Goals & Develop Self-Awareness

Now that you have finished your time at college and are getting ready to start university, it is the perfect time to review your goals. Take some time to reflect on all of the hard work you've put in, and think about how this will help you with the next step of your journey.

What were your goals before you started college? It is likely that one of them was to do well and progress to university - but now you've achieved that goal, what comes next?

Over time your goals might change, or you might think of brand new ones you'd like to add to your list. That's why it's important to keep reflecting on them during university. That way you can start working towards them now, making steady progress that will have a big impact in the future.

But how do you get started and decide on your goals? In the below video, Dr Victoria Wilson-Crane, our Senior Director for Innovative Student Learning here at Kaplan International Pathways, shares a great resource which may help you to approach goal setting from a different perspective.

VIDEO:

RESOURCE:
As Dr Victoria Wilson-Crane suggested, you may like to order a fee copy of the book '80,000 Hours' by visiting the website:  https://80000hours.org/

ACTIVITY:
Access the activity sheet by clicking the link here: Activity Sheet for Topic 1

2. Develop Your Personal Brand

Now that you have thought about your personal development and redefined your goals ahead of starting university, it is time to consider how you would like to present yourself by developing a personal brand. Your personal brand is how you want people to see you. It involves visibly presenting the values you stand for and showcasing your blend of skills, experience, and personality. Developing a strong personal brand can help you achieve your goals.

In the video below, Stef Foley (Project Developer – Employability, Kaplan International Pathways) discusses why your time at university is the perfect opportunity to begin developing your personal brand, and Rachel Kimber (Director of Business Operations, Kaplan International Pathways) shares insights into using LinkedIn to develop an effective personal brand.

VIDEO:


RESOURCE & ACTIVITY:

Article: https://hbr.org/2022/02/whats-the-point-of-a-personal-brand

This article by the Harvard Business Review explains the importance of a personal brand and how it can benefit you. Read the article to learn more about developing your own personal brand.

Start with ‘Step 1’ of ‘How to Build a Personal Brand’, which will help you identify your unique strengths and values. This first step is essential for creating a personal brand that represents who you are and what you stand for.

3. Showcase Your Skills & Experience

During your time at college, you will have gained valuable experiences and developed important skills and attributes. In this topic, we will explore how you can showcase and build upon these during your time at university. In the video below, Stef Foley (Project Developer – Employability) and Umara Imtiaz (Academic Tutor) discuss how you can use your KapPACK e-portfolio and digital badges to showcase your skills and experiences. 

 VIDEO: 

RESOURCE:

Networking is a great way to showcase your skills and experience. This blog provides you with 5 easy ways to network while at university.

https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/5-easy-ways-network-while-university  

ACTIVITY:

Remember to download and save a copy of your KapPACK e-portfolio and digital badges. If you have started developing an online professional profile, like a LinkedIn page, consider incorporating information from your e-portfolio and digital badges into your profile. For guidance on how to include your digital badges, refer to the video above, ‘Showcasing Your Skills & Experience.’


4. Find Work-Experience Opportunities

Gaining work experience isn’t just about finding a job. There are many different ways to gain work experience at university. Watch the video below to hear from Stef Foley (Project Developer – Employability, Kaplan International Pathways) about the various ways you can gain experience and how to begin looking for opportunities.

VIDEO:


RESOURCE:

Watch the video below, which is a conversation between Kaplan’s Alumni Project Support Intern, Isabel Harkins, and one of our University of Nottingham International College alumni, Benjamin Nnadi, who is now studying at the University of Nottingham.

In this video Benjamin discusses:

  • Benjamin’s part-time work experience whilst studying at university - as Brand Manager for a student accommodation company. 
  • What his role involves and what his responsibilities are 
  • The unexpected challenges of part-time work and methods to overcome them  
  • What can be gained from the experience of working whilst studying 
  • Post-graduation prospects  
  • How to find part-time work as a student 
  • Support and advice for students in the same situation – and where to find it (including resources services that helped). 
  • How campus employability and careers services can help 
  • Tips for preparing a CV for the first time  


ACTIVITY:

Your university’s career and employability service is a great place to start when looking into work experience options. Spend some time researching what they offer by visiting their website below:

5. Maximise Your Employability During Your Studies 

RESOURCE: UNDERSTANDING THE TERMINOLOGY USED AT UNIVERSITY 

To make the most of your time at university it's important that you know about the support available to you, whether that's to do with your career journey or any other aspect of your studies. When you start university, you'll probably come across new terminology, and hear people using phrases you've not heard before. This can be confusing at first, but luckily there's a useful guide available that can help! Take a look at the document below, produced by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, to learn what terms you might come across and how your university might talk about topics like employability. This document also answers some frequently asked questions, so it could be useful to read through this before you start your course.

Click here to access the guide: Student Guide to the Hidden Curriculum (qaa.my.salesforce.com)

WATCH OUR 'MAXIMISE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY DURING YOUR STUDIES' WEBINAR RECORDING

Gradlink is an award-winning specialist careers website for international students and graduates who have studied or are studying in the UK (you can learn more about Gradlink on their website here: www.gradlinkuk.com). During the webinar, you will hear from international graduates, and David Gee, founder of GradLink, an international student career expert, who will provide you with advice about: 

  • Engaging with careers and employability opportunities whilst at university
  • Gaining quality work experience  
  • Skills and business English development 
  • Developing your digital presence and connecting with alumni 
Click here to watch: Maximise Your Employability During Your Studies

Are you interested in learning more about how you can maximise your employability and prioritise your wellbeing to make the most of your time at university? If so, you can explore expert webinars featuring speakers like Olympian Peter Bakare, discover our exclusive networking materials, and access additional resources to support your career journey. 
Follow this link to see everything that Pathways Extra has to offer: 
Pathways Extra (https://pathways.kaplaninternational.com)
and click here to find out more about our new wellbeing offerings: 
Resilience Programme (Available Exclusively to Kaplan Alumni!): https://pathways.kaplaninternational.com.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this content! Please take a moment to complete this feedback form: Feedback (pathways.kaplaninternational.com)

Last modified: Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 3:39 PM