I would argue that the project module provides four outputs:
- It enables you to consolidate and further develop your skills and knowledge that have been gained from your study of previous modules.
- It enables you to gain important and necessary academic credit that contributes to your degree.
- It enables you to complete a specific named degree that is recognised by an industrial body: the British Computer Society.
- It enables you to create an extensive and detailed project report that you can show to a potential employer.
This fourth point can be easily overlooked. When writing your report, imagine bringing it to a technical interview. Interviews are all about demonstrating your skills and abilities to someone who has a problem that needs to be solved. Your report should, of course, be written in such as way to showcase your skills, knowledge and what you have achieved.
If you have written your report with this in mind, there is no reason why you should not bring your end of project report to an interview. To efficiently share what you have done, one idea is to create an additional ‘presentation appendix’ that you can add to the end of your report. This could contain a very short series of PowerPoint slides, that have been designed so you are able to talk someone through your project. Prepare for five minutes, no more. You can always go into more technical detail if you need to.
In addition to mentioning your project on your CV, if your project involves designing and building software, you might consider sharing your code through a GitHub repository. Not only can you include a link to the repository in your project work, perhaps as an appendix, but you could also share a link to your repository to your CV. The effect of this will be to highlight your professional skills.
When you are writing your project report, make sure you consider all your potential readers: your tutor, your examiner, and anyone else who might be interested in learning about your skills and abilities. Rather than thinking of the report as something that allow you to gain three of the academic outputs that come with studying a project module, think how you might present what you have done to a potential employer.
Careers support
The OU runs a career service. The service is funded through a portion of your student fees and is available for every student for up to three years after graduation.
As you work work on your project, begin to look at the different services that are offered by the university careers and employability service. Through the service, you can book in a one-to-one consultation with a careers advisor, access events about career planning, and internship and job vacancies.
Here is a short summary of some of the services offered by the careers service, taken directly from the opportunity hub website:
- Explore career pathways.
- Get help with qualification and career goals.
- Build your work experience.
- Develop skills for the workplace.
- Get help with job seeking applications.
- Explore further study.
A further resource that may be considered used is the Prospects website that provides information about further study, information about jobs, and further careers guidance.
Reflections
Very early on in my career, I found a vacancy through Prospects. I made and application, and was selected for interview. I made sure I took with my recently completed dissertation. I showed it to my interviewer.
I didn’t end up getting the job I had applied for, but I did end up getting a different opportunity (for which I am always grateful for). My dissertation showed what I was capable of doing, and it must have made an impression. Your project report has the potential to do the same.
A further reflection is that there is a lot of career related resources that are provided by the university. There is often a separation between the academic study, and the exploration of employability choices and options. It is really important that we find the time to explore the resources that are available. It is also useful to remember that we have access to the careers service for three years after graduation.