Reaching the end of your OU studies or qualified within the last three years? You’ve worked hard for your qualification, so we want to help you make it work hard for you in careers event ‘Your next steps after qualifying’ 10:00 -13:00, 6 April 2022. Whether you’re still to discover where your OU qualification will take you or need help exploring your next career step, we’ll be here for all OU alumni up to three years after qualifying, of all races and cultures, mental or physical health conditions, ages, identities and backgrounds. The employers who we work with know that diverse teams perform better and strive to create inclusive, welcoming workplaces. Just bring yourself.

The three sessions shed light on specific areas that recent alumni and level three students have said they would like to be more confident with: engaging meaningfully with employers, navigating and tracking opportunities, and how to best demonstrate the skills and qualities employers seek in CVs and applications. We have teamed up with alumni, and colleagues across the UK nations to help you make sense of the post-pandemic labour market and prepare you to make the next step towards your future.

Register at one, two or all three of the ‘Your next steps after qualifying’ sessions at the links below:

10.00-11.00 Make your next move - Alumni panel session

Hear from alumni about how they successfully identified opportunities and managed a career move. Explore advice on how to highlight the transferable skills gained through OU study during the recruitment process. Build your confidence in reaching out and ask alumni how they did this in an informal session.

11.15-11.45 – Navigating graduate work experience and internship opportunities

Find out how to get the best out of OpportunityHub with a guided overview and discover how internships and work experience can help you break into a new career. Our Employer Engagement team works with employers across the UK and we will also give you the latest on our paid graduate work experience schemes GROW in Wales and GCAS in Scotland.

12.00-13.00 – ‘CV Miss to CV Hit' workshop (limited spaces)

Or 3 May 12.00-13.00 ‘CV Miss to CV Hit' workshop

Find out how to show employers the best version of you, describing the skills and qualities you have to offer in ways to make them take notice. This practical online workshop will help give your CV a boost. We'll give you the tools to see why recruiters say ‘yes’ to some CVs and 'no' to others. We’ll critique elements of a CV so that you can apply what you have learnt to your own. Discover ways to tailor your CV and make an impact to give your CV it’s best chance to make it to the top of the right pile.

If you’re not able to attend ‘Your next steps after qualifying’, there are still many ways we can help you for three years after you qualify. Visit our welcome page for new and soon-to-be OU alumni on OpportunityHub, Careers support for three years after you study, which signposts you to a wide range of tools, information and resources to build your career confidence in areas typically requested by OU alumni and Level 3 students.