Competitions – whether you win them or not – are a brilliant way of exploring your passion and getting creative. And taking part in competitions is great for your employability as well – you’ll gain experience putting your ideas into action and crafting funding proposals, and competitions will demonstrate your drive and enthusiasm to future employers.
Remember – your employability is made up of your Knowledge, Attributes, Skills and Experience! You can find competitions that will expand each part of your KASE.
So, we’ve rounded up some of the best upcoming competitions (each one has a different application method and different closing date) representing a range of industries – what are you waiting for?
1. Huawei Competition
With a Network Track and Cloud Track, there is something to suit everyone interested in working in IT. Designed to help you learn and achieve certificates, more than 100,000 students in 61 countries have taken part in the competition since 2018.
Best for: tech wizards
2. Future Legal Mind
Undergraduates and postgraduates studying Law can write an essay to win £2000 prize money and a mentoring session with an experienced lawyer.
Best for: essay writing
3. Undergraduate of the Year Award
Targetjobs’ prestigious annual competition offers up 13 awards to talented and motivated undergraduates – check out the full list and requirements for each role here. For each award, you’ll win prize money, a paid internship, and more.
Best for: getting internships
4. The Mayor of London’s Civic Innovation Challenge
Calling all tech start-ups – London needs you to develop answers to some of London’s biggest challenges. This year the themes are:
- Countering Violent Extremism Online – How can we use technology to stop the spread of terrorist and violent extremist material online and make London safer? Challenge partner – Metropolitan Police Service
- Democratising Planning – How can we use data and technology to democratise planning, and ensure we can tackle the housing crisis facing Londoners? Challenge partner – Greater London Authority
- More efficient freight in London – How can innovation help to make the way goods and services move around London safer, cleaner and more efficient? Challenge partner: Transport for London (TfL)
The winning company for each challenge will work with London authorities to test, validate and roll-out their solution, with £40,000 to support delivery.
Best for: London-lovers and exercising creativity
But don’t just take our word for it. Zubier, a King’s alumn, and a finalist in last year’s Mayor of London’s Civic Innovation Challenge, says…
“My confidence rose from -5 to +100. I learned that the greatest ideas are those that are pitched and the worst ideas are those that continue to reside in your mind. Although I didn’t win the competition, taking part has really helped me believe in myself”
For help with applications and cover letters check out our advice on Keats, register for an application advice appointment on King’s CareerConnect, or sign up for a workshop!