Casually-dressed professional with glasses smiles at his computer during a work meeting in bright office.

Career advice

Thinking about your future? Discover how you can navigate your career path with ease with this essential guide.

For many of us, work plays a significant role in our lives. From 9-to-5s and regular shifts to more flexible arrangements, a lot of our time is spent at work, which makes finding an enjoyable and fulfilling career that much more important. Whether you’re considering a new job, want a promotion or simply want to develop existing skills, we’ve got the career advice to help you achieve your goals.

Your future-proofed career skills

Generally speaking, transferrable skills allow you to move between roles, industries, and careers. Whether you want to improve your communication skills, think more creatively or learn how to lead, here are the in-demand skills that are vital in today’s workplace.

Communication skills

Nearly every job involves other people. By developing your communication skills, you’ll be better at collaborating on projects, sharing information effectively, and negotiating with colleagues, clients, or employers.

Teamwork

Collaboration can produce great ideas and help make companies more efficient. Develop your ability to work in a team and you could boost your career by helping your company and colleagues be more productive.

Creative thinking

Whether dealing with limited resources, crowded markets, or differing opinions from senior leadership, being able to think of new and innovative solutions has the potential to transform your career.

Problem solving skills

From analysing, evaluating, and assessing information to coming up with sound solutions and making informed decisions, a critical approach to problem solving will help identify the best course of action.




Digital literacy

Understanding of digital media will go a long way in today’s data-driven society. From productivity tools to project management platforms, the number of digital tools used day-to-day in the workplace has never been higher. Being able to continually develop the skills you need to implement these tools into your work week is essential.

Leadership skills

Communication, delegation, decision-making, team building, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution are just some of the leadership skills needed to thrive at work. Being able to lead projects, think strategically, and build a rapport with different teams are all critical not only at work but also for personal growth.


How to write a great CV

Need help updating your CV? Learn how to write one that stands out to employers and lands your dream job.

Be concise

Ideally, you should keep your CV to one to two pages. If you have more experience, you might not be able to include every role on your CV, so choose the longest positions you’ve held or where you’ve made the most impact.

Keep things simple

For most jobs, you’re better off keeping your CV format and layout simple. Choose a font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman and stay between 10 and 12-point font.

Show, don’t just tell

Use figures (e.g. percentage of increased sales) and impactful action verbs to show how you made a difference in your time there. Think about what the employer needs from this role and show how you’ve already done it elsewhere.

Tailor your experience

Not all your professional experiences will be relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since you need to be selective with the limited space you have, you need to pick out responsibilities that demonstrate that you’re the best fit for the role.

Always send a cover letter

Your CV needs context, and a cover letter helps you to express your personality and convince the reader you’re right for the role.

Tips for a successful interview

Research the company
Plan your outfit (smart or smart casual clothing should be appropriate for most positions)
Prepare for common interview questions
Come up with potential role-specific interview questions using the job description
Come up with examples of how you responded to different workplace situations that could be part of interview questions
Make a shortlist of questions you have for the interviewer
If you’re going to an in-person interview, check your route ahead of time and leave with plenty of time to spare
Go in with a positive attitude and a genuine interest in the company
Follow up with an email thanking the interviewer for their time

Be a STAR at your next interview

Hear from Sheffield University about how to ace your next interview with the STAR method.

Common interview questions, answered

Generally, interviewers will start with this question, not because they haven’t read through your CV, but because they’d like to hear how you see yourself and your professional experience. Think of your answer as a 1-minute ‘elevator speech’—keep your answer brief, related to your professional background, and address things that may not have come up on your CV. 

Here’s where you demonstrate that you’ve done your research and you know about the employer. Run through the positives, but make sure that you emphasise things like values and personal fulfilment rather than convenience and money.

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to problem solve, learn, and adapt. Provide a specific example (success story) to show how you have coped with a stressful situation. 

This one is a bit of a cliché, but it’s overused for good reason. The interviewer wants to make sure that you don’t see the job as a stop-gap position. They also want to establish just how ambitious you are. Talk about how you’d like your career to progress, and demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry.

If you have an accomplishment that you’re especially proud of, then here is your chance to flaunt it. Try to pick out something that’s relevant to the position for which you’re now applying, and focus on why it made you proud.

This is a little bit different from the ‘what makes you unique’ question. You can hold strengths in common with other applicants. If you have a broad range of them then you’ll give the impression of a safe pair of hands. It should be sufficient to briefly run through three or four of them, along with examples.

Many of us are more comfortable talking about our weaknesses, especially if we’re conscious of them. The problem is that it’s easy to do it in the wrong way. The interviewer wants to know that you’re capable of self-analysis and error correction. They don’t want a long list of reasons not to hire you!

This is another question that might tempt you into speaking negatively about past experiences. Instead, look to put a positive spin on your true motivations. If you found that the previous position was unfulfilling, stressful, or that there were limited opportunities for advancement, then say so. But do it in a way that’s gracious.

While there may be role-specific questions you’d like to ask the interviewer, here are some general questions that should give you a better idea of the company culture, expectations, and what the role will look like in the short term and long term.
  • What does success in this role look like?
  • What does a typical day in this role look like?
  • How would you describe your leadership style?
  • What does this company value the most?
  • How would you describe the company culture? 
  • What do you enjoy most about working here?
  • What would you expect from the successful candidate in the next three to six months?

Take your career a degree further

Now you have the tools to navigate your world of work, here’s how to take your career to the next level.

Hard skills
  • Do research and learn about the role
  • Develop your hard and soft skills
  • Perfect your CV and cover letter
  • Master the job application process
  • Start networking
Change careers
  • Identify why you want a change 
  • Weigh up the benefits to moving jobs
  • Identify the challenges 
  • Envision the career you want 
  • Identify your transferable skills 
  • Work on filling gaps in your experience
  • Be realistic about your choices 
  • Be persistent in your job search
Get a promotion
  • Think about why you want a promotion
  • List your current responsibilities
  • Review average salaries for your role
  • Make a case for yourself with examples

Want help choosing the right degree?

Complete this form and we’ll share guides, insights, and top courses to help make your degree journey that much clearer.