Career opportunities
Politics graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Contrary to popular belief, the aim of a Politics degree is not to produce potential Members of Parliament (although our graduates would make knowledgeable MPs!). Rather it is to equip students with a range of transferable skills that can be applied in a wide variety of occupations.
The University of Leicester and the Department of Politics and International Relations are helping you to make a smooth transition from university to work and at the same time to keep the focus on your studies during your final year at University. The job market is changing and we will follow you providing valuable insights and information with the help of the Careers Service. Please, access the Careers’ pages for more information on how to develop your career, how to make an appointment and the Leicester Graduate Internship Programme.
The Department will provide information with regular emails on available seminars and workshops on campus, with links to register; Possible drop in sessions in the department on ‘How to write a CV’ with a Careers officer; and available internships.
Please, register with the Careers centre to receive updates on their programme. Also, feel free to access further websites, such as Prospects, where you can also register your profile, or the following Careers page for more information.
Our students in recent years have gone into such things as administration (both public and private), the armed services, the police, the media, and management of many different kinds in industry and commerce, the legal profession, banking and accountancy. A number of our graduates have gone on to careers in international organisations such as the European Commission in Brussels.
A Politics degree is useful for almost any career for which a degree is required, but, as with most degrees, a further period of training is usually necessary. It is important to think about your eventual career from day one at University and to be consciously building up the skills and CV that will eventually impress potential employers.
From the academic year 2013-14, the Department is offering a third year module, ‘Politics in Action’, following a job placement during the summer, where students can further learn how to write their CV, how to prepare for a job interview and how to transfer their skills from their degree to the job market.
From the academic year 2012-13, the Careers Service and the Department (and Dr Simona Guerra in the Department) are here to support and facilitate your academic, professional and personal development. Simona will help you to make an informed choice; Provide help and advice on employability; Send you information on potentially interesting traineeships and vacancies.
Feel free to drop by during Simona’s office hours. Whatever you are concerned with in your job search, pop in to have a chat!
