Reaching your career goals

OU study gives you more than a qualification. Our courses are designed so that you develop transferable skills and qualities which are valued by employers.

Building your employability isn’t just about getting a job. It’s about growing your confidence, skills and qualities to fulfil your potential. It can also help you achieve your personal, educational and career goals – whatever that looks like for you and whatever your background.

We can help you with this.

Tom’s work placement

Our team helped OU student Tom find a placement at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. Find out what he got up to and how this has helped his employability.

Build your career confidence

If you’re an OU student studying in Wales, you could apply to Employability Wales.

You’ll get dedicated one-to-one coaching and mentoring from an employability advisor who can help you with:

  • exploring options, decision-making and navigating next steps
  • building and reviewing a CV that will get you noticed, with the help of intelligent tools
  • making contacts with employers.
  • finding work placements that help you progress
  • training and workshops to build your confidence and skills.

We can also help you with costs like travel to a workplace, or any other expenses you might have.

If you’d like to have a chat about your career goals and employability skills, book into our calendar for a 45-minute conversation.

Alternatively,  send us an email to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.

Book here

Employability Wales has been an invaluable resource to me! Not only has it helped me identify where my strengths are and what areas I can improve on, but it has also helped me secure an exciting internship."

OU in Wales student

Mabel's story

Mabel graduated with a degree in Arts and Humanities with The OU in Wales. While studying, Mabel completed an Employability Wales placement with a creative media company to gain professional experience and insight into the film industry.

Read Mabel's story

Mabel's illustration

 

Careers and employability service

The OU's Careers and Employability Services (CES) is here to support you from your first module to three years after study. ​

  • The 3-minute careers check-in helps you start thinking about your goals and needs. ​
  • Navigate Your Future automated activity pathway will build your confidence and help you define your next steps.​
  • Find the latest opportunities in Wales and follow your favourite employers with OpportunityHub and receive the Wales monthly Jobs Mailer. ​
  • Book an individual careers consultation with a careers professional for further help.

Open University virtual internships

We’re always looking to help you connect with employers. With a virtual internship, you'll work online from home in the same way as you study. Just like a an internship based on site, you'll work on projects and tasks given to you by an employer and have regular catch-ups and support from them. 

Introducing virtual internships to students

Information for employers

Employers

If you’re an employer who needs some extra support, talk to us to see how an OU student or graduate could help your organisation. Contact us on [email protected].

Other opportunities in Wales

Darogan – Wales dedicated graduate recruitment website

Darogan is Wales’ Graduate Hub, the only dedicated platform for graduate careers in Wales.

Through our digital platform, events and other services, we connect degree-educated talent with employers in Wales.

We know that Wales is a great place to live and work. Our mission is to make sure that every student and graduate in the country knows this too. This is the purpose that drives us as an organisation.