Careers and employability
From your first day at ARU, we'll support you to build the skills and abilities employers value in graduates.
Career development and support
We offer a wide range of opportunities to support and guide you on your chosen career, develop your professional awareness and showcase your talents.
You’ll study an innovative curriculum designed to build transferable skills, challenge mindsets and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work.
- Ruskin Modules focus on sustainability and offer a unique and inclusive learning environment. Explore new ways of thinking and challenge mind-sets
- Live briefs allow you to apply what you’ve learnt in the classroom, gain hands-on experience working with clients, and add value to a business.
Many of our courses also include optional placement years and internships.
"The Live Brief was definitely one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done during my degree. Having the freedom to investigate my areas of interest while also being able to discuss things that were quite topical was great. I was able to develop project management skills and realise the importance of effective communication as well as my own motivation for independent research."
Our careers and employability services
Life at ARU is what you make it.
We encourage you to take an active lead building your unique professional profile by dedicating time during your studies and alongside them to gain the most out of what’s on offer.
Getting involved with activities outside of your course – such as volunteering or becoming a member of a club or society – looks great on your CV and can showcase key skills that employers are looking for in graduates.
Our dedicated careers and employability service offers advice and guidance for students to amplify their career possibilities and stand out from the crowd.
Whether you're looking for jobs, work experience, start-up support, or want to learn a new language, we have the resources for you.
Our Employability Service works with you throughout your time at ARU and after you graduate.
We offer:
- careers advice, including personalised appointments with our experienced advisers
- help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
- an online Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates
- campus job fairs, workshops and employer visits
- an online portal, the Career Centre, packed with useful careers tools and resources
- access to Handshake, a dedicated platform to help you connect with employers and find placement and graduate job opportunities
- once you graduate, lifelong access to the Alumni Career Centre.
Challenge yourself to embrace as many opportunities and build as many graduate attributes as you can throughout your ARU journey.
Read our Employability Service blog for tips and features on graduate careers and preparing for the world of work.
If you’re career focussed and thinking about your future, many of our courses include the opportunity to go on placement. Others have mentorship, industry collaboration or 'Live Briefs' as a key part of the learning experience.
Placements are available in most subjects and give you the opportunity to develop your transferable skills, while working in industry.
If you're studying law, there's the chance to gain hands-on experience working with qualified solicitors in our Law Clinic.
If you're studying nursing, midwifery, medicine or other healthcare courses, you'll spend a significant amount of time on clinical placement.
We can help you to explore, seek, and secure work experience, placements and internship opportunities.
Enhance your CV, boost your income and gain experience and skills.
ARU Temps is our campus recruitment agency and part of ARU’s Employability Service. It provides paid temporary work including Student Ambassador opportunities to fit around your studies. It’s also a unique resourcing tool for employers.
Register online with ARU Temps before you start your course, and drop into see us on campus when you arrive.
International students are welcome to register too – though note there may be some restrictions to working hours, as stated on your visa.
Visit our online jobs board at any time to see the latest vacancies.
Volunteering is your chance to get involved and give something back to your community. Gain life experience and develop skills that you’ll be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews with potential employers.
You could take part in our Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE) programme, working with organisations to apply problem-solving techniques and make a positive social impact. Recently, some of our students worked on a project that aims to create safer streets, led by Essex Police and Essex County Council.
Our Students' Union has a thriving volunteering programme, with hundreds of opportunities to get involved in the local community and develop skills that employers look for in graduates. These can include communication, team working, and emotional intelligence.
You could also become a Students' Union Rep or Officer, working with students and staff across ARU.
If you have a particular interest you want to indulge while you're at uni, join (or create) a society. You can choose from stand-up comedy, cheerleading, vegan, K Pop, LGBTQ+, Harry Potter, and about 100 more...!
Law students can volunteer in our Law Clinics in Cambridge and Chelmsford. You'll work on real-life cases under the supervision of qualified solicitors, and receive full on-the-job training.
The Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy is a hub for start-ups, ideas generation and innovative projects. We offer:
- mentoring, support and guidance
- seminars to help you develop ideas from concept to execution
- interactive sessions on developing your presenting, team-building ad financial planning skills
- opportunities to network with successful entrepreneurs
- access to the Student Business Start-up Support hub, which offers online support and weekly drop-in sessions. Perfect if you've got a brilliant business idea that you want to develop – whichever course you're studying.
- the opportunity to solve real-life social issues with our Impact 24 challenge
Learning a language can help to boost your employability – and your confidence.
Our Anglia Language Programme is open to all ARU students. We offer courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, and you can study on campus in Cambridge or Chelmsford.
Visit our Anglia Language Programme page to find out more.
Questions?
If you’re thinking about studying at ARU and have any questions about employability and careers, please email them to employability@aru.ac.uk
Already a student?
We’re here to offer you help and guidance in a way that suits you. You can come along to one of our drop-in sessions on campus – here’s where you will find us:
Cambridge: Career Centre, 1st Floor Open Access Area, Lord Ashcroft Building – Monday-Friday, 11am-2pm
Chelmsford: ARU Temps, Ground Floor, Queen’s Building – Monday-Friday, 11am-2pm
Peterborough: Student Support Centre, Ground Floor, University House – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12pm-2pm
You can also speak with us on the phone (01245 684277) or send any questions about job applications and interviews to us by email at employability@aru.ac.uk
Our events and appointment slots are bookable via Handshake. Activate your Handshake account.
Careers resources and tools can be accessed 24/7 online via the Career Centre.
Our Placements Team offers drop-in support and appointments for anyone interested in placements and internships. Get in touch at placements@aru.ac.uk