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We've created a framework for students, The Pillars of Employability. It explains skills that you should undertake to prepare you for your future career and lifelong learning as a UCL graduate.
The six pillars of the framework
Explore the six elements of the UCL Pillars of Employability to learn more about what employability means and how you can develop.
- Skills
Consider what skills you have developed already and where the gaps are. Our Skills Hub gives information about the skills employers look for. Such as:
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem solving
- Decision making
- Team work
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Leadership
- Communication
- Creativity
- Digital skills
- Technical and subject specific skills.
- Knowledge
You'll develop subject knowledge and expertise through your studies, but employers will also be interested in your knowledge of the industry/sector you are applying to, wider economic context and sustainable business practices. Develop this through:
- Reading news articles
- Exploring company websites
- Talking to professionals.
- Global citizenship
A global citizen is someone who is mindful and appreciates the wide world. How has this been part of your studies or other activities and what else could you do? For example:
- Looking at global case studies/global challenges/UN sustainable development goals
- Working in and communicating with multi-cultural teams
- Studying abroad and/or travelling
- Undertaking a global internship.
- Career planning and decision making
Get to know yourself and what sort of work might suit you. In order to present yourself effectively it is helpful to have an idea of your career directions and motivators. You could:
- Seek support from our careers consultants
- Talk to employers and UCL Alumni
- Investigate career destinations of UCL graduates.
- Values and personal attributes
Employers seek recruits that fit their values and personal qualities to overcome challenges. Try
- Thinking about your examples of personal qualities, such as resilience, drive and adaptability
- Doing online quizzes to discover your core values. For example, do you value work-life balance, over competition, or making a difference over challenge?
- Researching company values and UCL values.
- Experience and networks
One of the best ways to develop yourself is to gain experience and meet new people. What opportunities could you take up next? This could include:
- Group or individual projects/assignments on your course
- Business challenges
- Volunteering
- Part-time work
- Internships
- Clubs, societies, sports.
