Why studying with OUBS is good for your career

Many organisations value the skills and experience that OU graduates bring.

According to THE (Times Higher Education), OU graduates are regarded as among the most employable in the UK (we’re ranked 13^th in the list). OU study certainly stands out on a CV, demonstrating initiative, resilience and the determination to succeed.

Employers across a range of industries are also attracted by the transferable skillsets that our courses are designed to develop, including business and marketing analytics, communication, strategy and problem solving. Moreover, students are encouraged to apply their new ideas and practice new skills in the workplace as they study, improving their performance – and their employability – from day one.

Careers advice

Throughout their studies (and beyond), our students receive exceptional support from our Careers and Employability Service. This includes an award-winning website with information and advice on the process of career planning and career development, including:

• sections on self-assessment, finding job opportunities and applying for jobs, and subject-specific information
• an online vacancy and employer connection service, Opportunity Hub, which has posted over 1,700 graduate vacancies across the UK year and has several functions such as ‘ask an employer’ and internships and volunteering opportunities. There is also the opportunity to attend face-to-face site visits called Employer Insight Days
• to meet a large number of employers through an online careers fair
• themed webinars (many in conjunction  with alumni or employers) covering topics such as video interviews, graduate opportunities, commercial awareness, decision-making, narrowing down your options, tailored support for students with disabilities, networking with LinkedIn, and opportunities for working from home
• online career forums for peer to peer support and learning
• preparation for interviews with a  mock interview tool – students get the opportunity to record themselves answering questions with advice from employers

All current students and those who finished their studies within the last three years are also entitled to a careers consultation to help them plan and identify a Careers Action Plan, identify appropriate jobs or careers, preparing for selection and interview. We also offer selected services to prospective students and those studying OU-validated modules elsewhere.

Next steps

• Visit our Careers and Employability Service
• Find out about services and benefits for alumni
• For detailed course-related careers information, see individual course descriptions on the main OU website.