Develop your skills

While you're studying with UHI you have opportunities to build on the skills and experiences you are developing in your studies by:

• engaging in personal development planning
• taking on work experience or part time work
• trying out volunteering
• joining a club or society.

What are the benefits?

Help you find and progress in work
There is no doubt that having a degree can help you secure and progress in work. However, many employers also look for evidence of other interests, skills and work experience. This is particularly the case for very highly sought after jobs where you will need to set yourself apart from other applicants.

Help you develop your skills and interests
Your course will teach you a whole range of skills and introduce you to lots of topics. However, doing other things at the same time as studying tends to help you to develop more of an idea of yourself, what you like and dislike as well as giving you lots of useful experiences to mention in interviews!

Balance your workload
Combining different activities tends to increase your productivity and reduce boredom. Although you will want to make sure that you pay enough attention to your studies, doing some extra things outside of study can actually help your grades.

Put your learning into practice
Depending on your course, you may find that volunteering, a work placement, or part time work gives you an opportunity to put some of your learning into practice.

Make friends and develop contacts
Getting involved in other activities will mean that you come into contact with other people, and often people who share interests with you. This can be a great way of widening your social circle as well as beginning to develop a useful network of work contacts.