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Education

How to boost your CV

You can improve your job prospects while you study at university. And you can find it challenging and enjoyable

Job searching can be a daunting task for new graduates. Experience, experience, experience, the entire market seem to scream. But don’t worry.

Although boosting your CV will require some effort, it is possible to combine working hard with playing hard.

Here is the University Post guide to activities that will boost your CV and preparing for the future while having fun in the present.

1. The obvious – Get an internship

Many programs include internships so that students have an opportunity to gain work experience during their studies. But why stop there? In order to enhance your future opportunites, you should apply for internship programs outside the curriculum. During the summer holidays you can also consider taking on a short-term internship to boost your portfolio. Doing the extra internship is a perfect way to plant your feet on untouched grounds, whether we are talking foreign countries or foreign industries. And for most internships you can negotiate less than full time hours, leaving room for exploration and fun.
Microsoft, UNOPS, Maersk Oil and WHO all have headquarters in Copenhagen and frequently require interns. Your discipline is bound to be covered by one of these companies or by the many other local and international businesses in Denmark.

See University Post’s article about a successful internship here

2. Find a relevant student job

If you are looking for a student job, why not look for a place where your tasks relate to your interests? Being an intern is great, but getting paid increases motivation and is much better for the purse strings. You can find student jobs in English on the University of Copenhagen’s job bank here

Read University Post’s Five Step Path to a Good Danish Job, Part 1.

Or even better, learn how to make your own job.

3. Volunteer

If your CV highlights that you have been a volunteer, the chances are your future employer will view you as being a good-natured and a social-minded individual who cares about the community as a whole. Whatever your field of study is, you can find a volunteer program that suits your interests. The European Youth Portal lists all the useful pages for volunteers-to-be in Denmark. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people you share interests with, it often allows you to work as flexible as you want and sometimes it even leads onto paid work.

Read more here.

4. Learn a new language

What is better than being bilingual? Being multilingual! An additional foreign language reflects well on your CV and it is an awesome way to get intimate with another culture. If you can’t afford to pay for a language course, join a group where they help you for free! Who knows – you may even find a Finnish friend or hook a French boyfriend! If you prefer to stay cosy under a blanket (the cold winter days are coming) you can go to TeachYourself.com and find a language you always wanted to speak.

5. Project work

Practice your teamwork skills, build a network and have lots of mid-day cake and after work beer: that’s what participating in a university project is all about. It is a good way to increase your academic skills and abilities and you can aim it after what you find fascinating or interesting. Jobbank.ku.dk gathers almost all University of Copenhagen related Master’s projects that students can participate in. Also check the flyers at your Faculty. Another way to go about it is by contacting a company you like and propose to do a project.

Read more here

6. Field work

A creative way to demonstrate your diligence is through field work. Go abroad or stay in the inner city – it doesn’t matter. The emphasis is on the learning process from the very basics. Build a competitive edge to the other job-searching graduates with your awareness of working methods in practice.

Read about an example of field work here

7. Open University

If you have some spare time during the semester, Open University offers several courses. Learn Swahili, study criminology or have a look at global health problems. If you wish to stay inside your field of study, contact your Faculty and ask about free optional courses. These additional classes will look good on your CV – and of course they help satisfy your thirst for knowledge.

Read more about Open University here

8. Summer School

Enjoy the shy Danish sun in a different setting. Every Faculty offers optional courses during the summer that are free to attend. If you are thirsty for more, apply for a short course at the Summer School. You only have to sacrifice a week of your break to significantly improve your academic skills and show employers your willingness to develop your competencies. Also, you could end up with more friends than when you started…

Read more about Summer School here

9. Debate clubs

No one likes shaky lambs at an interview. Get more confident and practice through social gatherings. The Copenagen Debate Club has regular training sessions and its members also participate in tournaments. Listen, learn and show the world what you’ve got!

Join a debate club here

10. Exchange programs

Going on exchange is a great way to learn about another culture, develop your social skills, become more independent and have a lot of plain old fun – and it looks great on CV too!

Find out more about various international programs here.

Good luck!

So there you are. Ten pieces of advice to boost your prospects. And this before you even get into the job market! Remember, doing something for your future, doesn’t necessarily have to be a drag. Go for it.

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

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