Unlocking New Skills Through Spark

Hi everyone! I’m Mario and today I would like to share with you my personal experience of Spark events at LSE Summer School. The first time I heard about Spark events was from a friend of mine that attended Summer School the year before. He told me that they were very useful to learn practical skills to use in the professional world, and everyday life. I was curious, because I always wanted to obtain skills that went beyond the theoretical knowledge of normal lessons, but also apprehensive, because often events like these can be boring or not as useful as they should be.

However, I decided the events were worth a try, so I signed up for the ones that interested me most. This was a great choice! I learned a lot of things that are very difficult to learn during your normal lessons - practical knowledge that any ambitious university student needs to have in order to succeed in an increasingly competitive and selective working world. The events were not boring at all, the experts who ran them made the sessions interactive, and encouraged us to participate actively; it was also a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends who didn’t take the same course as me. Since you can attend as many Spark events as you like and there is often at least one a day, it is easy to find the right event for you and fit it in around your schedule.

Personally, I attended a lot of Spark events, and I want to touch on the ones that impressed me the most. The event ‘Developing your LinkedIn profile and networking in person and online’ was popular, and discussed the ways in which you can utilise such an essential tool when entering the job market: during this event, students received tips on how to optimise their LinkedIn headline, write a summary and highlight relevant experiences in ways that make them more appealing to potential employers. I used these tips and have already seen an improvement on my profile.

Another important event was called the ‘Cover Letter workshop’, which was about how to write an effective cover letter. Writing a good cover letter is often very challenging: the event facilitator broke down the cover letter into simple steps, helping students understand what employers are really looking for.

Networking is also a central theme in the world of work, and you can learn how to do so effectively with a number of Spark events. Students are given strategies on how to build and maintain a professional network and how to make important connections that can help them in their future careers.

For those interested in entrepreneurship, Spark offers events to help you start a business, including ‘Lean Startup’ sessions. These explain how to develop a business idea and create a business plan. There were also a few events that focused on securing an internship, and how to make the most of it when you’re in it – The advice given in these sessions is incredibly valuable, as internships are one of the best ways to gain real-world experience and build connections within your chosen field.

I highly recommend you participate in as many Spark events as you can – they run alongside your lectures, often happening during lunchtime or in the evening, to give you the best opportunity to make the most of them. They represent an incredible opportunity for students to develop practical skills that will benefit them, both during and after their degree. I enjoyed being able to think in more detail about my career, and earn a micro-accreditation in professional skills for my attendance in Spark events.

Whether it’s improving your LinkedIn profile, learning how to network, or getting tips on starting a business, Spark gives you a chance to grow in ways that regular academic courses simply can’t offer. These sessions are a must for anyone looking to boost their personal and professional development. Don’t miss out!

This blog was written by one of our 2024 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.