Hard skills are abilities that let you tackle job-specific duties and responsibilities, and can be learned through courses, training, and on the job. They are focused on specific tasks and processes such as the use of tools, equipment, or software. In a general way, astrobiologists may need programming skills, lab and research skills, analytical skills, IT skills, or management skills.

On the other hand, soft skills are a set of interpersonal transferable (not job-specific) skills important for success in the workplace, which cannot be taught or tested. It’s thanks to soft skills that team members are able to effectively collaborate with each other and achieve synergistic results. They comprise common sense, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, character traits as well as communication skills among others.

Aside from these, showcasing the languages you speak, your hobbies or the specific astrobiology topics that interest you, are always a plus! These will help you sell yourself, and can also be boosted by achievements and awards that show you have gone beyond expected to deliver positive results and in recognition to these.

Volunteering is a great way to enhance your University experience, make new friends and become part of the local community. However, regardless of your motivation, you will find volunteering both challenging and rewarding. You will also gain a wide range of skills which will look great on your CV when you start job hunting. Volunteering can also be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change.

Volunteering is also a key component of the Stellify Award, the UoM’s most prestigious extra-curricular award available for all undergraduate students. Stellify means ‘to change, or be changed, into a star’. University wants us to Stellify through a range of transformational academic and extracurricular activities, helping us to stand out and make a difference to the world.

If you’re looking for opportunities within astrobiology, you should check out our volunteering section! We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our team. If you’re a UoM student, you could also nominate yourself to be a member of our committee next year!

The entrepreneurial mindset enables you to overcome challenges, be decisive, and accept responsibility for your outcomes. It is a constant need to improve your skills, learn from your mistakes, and take continuous action on your ideas.

Entrepreneurship involves decisiveness, confidence, accountability, resilience and humility. The biggest killer of entrepreneurs is not failure, but doubt – in ourselves, our surroundings, and our abilities. That’s why you have to learn to master your inner game.

The most common entrepreneurial models are small businesses, scalable start ups, large companies and social entrepreneurships. These also apply to astrobiology! Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, SETI Institute or Breakthrough Initiatives. These companies perfectly combine entrepreneurship and astrobiology. Will you be part of the change too?

These extra courses are ideal for anyone who wants to further their education, even if you are already at uni. This is especially important for aspiring astrobiologists, who cannot take a degree in astrobiology but want to access to a quality education and develop some skills within the field. They are convenient, use the latest technology, allow you to access world-leading institutions and academics, and are fully flexible and accessible.

We have partnered with Coursera, the world’s biggest provider of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), with more than 40 million registered users, to deliver you the best astrobiology online courses. Coursera has transformed the online education space by helping people mastering specific career skills, allowing anyone to access the world’s best education from anywhere, and transforming people’s lives through education.

Check out our curated list of astrobiology courses below!