University of Manchester Careers Blog

Written by Samantha Oates-Miller, Careers Insights and Graduate Support Assistant at the Careers Service

The First Insights Conference is a new event by the Careers Service happening on Wednesday 24 March 1 – 5 pm that connects first year undergraduate students with employers in a variety of sectors. It is an opportunity for you to learn more about sectors you are interested in, explore your options for boosting employability while still at university, and get ahead of your peers by thinking about your career plans early.

Network with employers

By attending the Conference, you will be able to network with major employers in sectors that interest you, other students across all disciplines with similar interests and graduates who have careers that you want to learn more about. You will get specific advice on graduate jobs and the skills you need to develop. The presentations and activities by employers will give you key insights into specific skills those sectors are looking for. In addition, the Conference will help you understand the application processes for different sectors, including what they want on the application form or how to do well in assessment centres. You might even get your talents spotted by future potential employers. 

Learn about different sectors

The First Insights Conference will help you to evaluate your interests by introducing different sectors. You will learn about three different sectors and employers, giving you an insight into career pathways and opportunities in those sectors as well as the day-to-day activities of their employees. The employers will share the types of roles they have on offer and you may even learn about an exciting role you had never heard of before! The Conference will also give you an opportunity to talk to the employers and ask them any questions about their company or sector that you may have. 

Understand what you can do while at university

Finally, you will learn how the university and how the Careers Service can support you. Alongside the employer sessions, the Conference offers information from the Careers Service to help you understand how we can support you as a student. Many students only think about experiences and skills when they graduate, which can limit the opportunities available to them. By attending the First Insight Conference, you will learn what you can do during your time at university to boost your graduate employability and how the Careers Service can support you.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the First Insights Conference now! Registration closes on Monday 15 March: www.bit.ly/firstinsightsconference