It’s never too early to start planning for life after graduation and identifying the skills you’ll need to succeed. The Warwick Award can help you with this. Hear from Niraali, a recent Gold Award recipient, about her journey.
Why do you think a Chemistry student would benefit from signing up for the Warwick Award?
As someone who’s completed the Warwick Award, I can honestly say it’s one of the most valuable things you can do during your time at Warwick. It’s simple to get started- just head over to Gradintelligence, where you can sign up for the Award. There are different levels to the Award: 30 points for silver and 60 for gold. I went for the Gold Award, and it’s been a great addition to my CV.
You can earn up to 20 points from your academic modules alone, and I believe most (if not all) Chemistry modules are Warwick Award accredited!
Additionally, any paid work through Unitemps counts toward the Award. For every 5 hours of Unitemps work, you earn 1 point, with a maximum of 20 points. Independent placements, volunteering, and various online courses also contribute. Even being on the committee of societies can count, which means many of you may already be halfway to completing the Award without realising it!
For me, having the Warwick Gold Award on my CV after graduating is a proven record to employers that I put significant time into developing my skills and participating in various professional activities. It shows dedication and a desire to learn- great talking points for any interview. At the end of my graduation ceremony, my name appeared on the credits with “Warwick Award Gold” next to it, which was a super proud moment and made all the effort feel even more rewarding.
There’s absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain from signing up. It’s free, it fits right into your existing activities, and it will benefit you so much!
Q&A
I signed up for the Warwick Award because it was a clear opportunity to recognise and develop my skills in an exciting and structured way. The idea of earning points for activities I was already involved in, like academic modules and internships, was appealing because it turned all my hard work into something tangible that I could showcase to employers. The fact that it’s free, personalised, and would appear on my HEAR transcript was also a big draw. It just seemed like a no-brainer.
A variety of activities contributed to my progress, including being a student ambassador for the chemistry department, completing online courses, and doing an independent work placement. I also earned points from chemistry modules and various other work through Unitemps, such as my role as the Women in Chemistry intern. These experiences helped me develop essential skills, particularly communication, teamwork, digital literacy, and leadership.
While all twelve skills are valuable, I believe that communication, teamwork, and self-awareness are some of the most important. Communication is essential in almost every aspect of life, from working in a professional environment to building personal relationships. Teamwork is crucial because collaboration is inevitable no matter the career path, and being able to work effectively with others is essential. Self-awareness helps you understand your strengths and areas for growth, making it easier to focus on continuous improvement.
Being a student ambassador for the chemistry department was particularly rewarding for me. It allowed me to grow my self-confidence and improve my communication skills significantly. Talking to prospective students and their families, and representing my department, required me to step out of my comfort zone initially. But over time, I became more comfortable speaking in public and answering questions on the spot. This experience gave me confidence in my ability to communicate clearly, which I know will be incredibly useful in my career.
It was an incredibly proud and rewarding moment. It felt like all the hard work I’d put into various activities and personal development had paid off in a tangible way. On top of that, seeing “Warwick Award Gold” next to my name during the credits at my graduation ceremony was a wonderful surprise that made the achievement feel even more special.
I think the Warwick Award will be incredibly useful when it comes to life after graduation. It’s a proven record of the time and effort I’ve put into developing a range of core employability skills. The Award shows my dedication to self-improvement and engagement in extracurricular activities, which may set me apart from other candidates. It also gives me a solid set of examples that I can refer to in interviews, allowing me to confidently talk about the skills I’ve developed in a structured way.
I would say that there’s absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up for the Warwick Award. It’s free, it’s integrated into activities you’re likely already doing, and it offers a structured way to track and develop essential employability skills. Plus, having the Award on your CV is a great way to stand out to employers. The skills you build through the Award will benefit you long after you graduate, so I would highly recommend signing up as soon as possible!
