#CareerPlanning: Action Plan for each year at university

Don’t leave it until your final year to start thinking about your future career! You can do many things during your time at university to improve your chances of successfully entering the career or postgraduate study of your choice.

The timings noted relate to opportunities in career areas which are normally open to graduates in any subject. This list does not include deadlines which are specific to students in a particular subject, such as deadlines for clinical psychology or vocational law courses: check the “What Can I Do With My Degree In … ?” Pages for this information, or see the careers adviser for your subject.

Dates given are approximate and may vary: so always check the current situation. The Careers and Employability Service makes every effort to ensure that the information on our site is accurate but it is your responsibility to verify the information given before taking any action.

First Year

• Get the CAREERS EMPLOYABILITY AWARD ON MODULE. This is the most effective way of increasing your chances of getting a graduate job. It covers
  
  
• Learn how to identify & develop your employability skills and “sell” them to employers. 
• Identify your interests, values & personal styles and find careers these relate to. 
• Find out about a particular career. 
• Decide which career options to pursue. 
• Prepare a CV, learn how to make applications & interview skills
• To get you award you to complete a number of quizzes and three short assignments.
• GET ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN UNIVERSITY LIFE. Surprisingly, the best thing you can do at University to make yourself attractive to employers is to enjoy yourself whilst at university! Employers will not just look for a good degree but also for proactive individuals who have got involved in societies, sports, volunteering, Student Union activities, etc rather than simply studying and socializing. 
• DEVELOP PERSONAL SKILLS. Students who get involved in clubs and societies or hold posts within the Students Union have lots of opportunities to use communication, negotiating and similar skills which are valuable ammunition for your CV.
• VOLUNTEER  This is a brilliant way to develop your skills
• DEVELOP YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS. Computing skills are important for almost all jobs. Covering core skills such as word-processing, use of email and the Internet, databases and PowerPoint.
• PREPARE A CV. This will be useful for vacation work applications and can also be used as a basis for your final year applications.
• BUILD UP YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE. A number of summer placements are advertised even before Xmas and although most give priority to second-year students some are open to first years (click here for a list). 
• FIND OUT ABOUT THE CAREERS OPEN TO YOU. Almost half of graduate vacancies are open to graduates in any subject, so your choice of career is very wide! Choosing a career, though, involves more than just finding out what is possible for you to do – you also need to think about what you want from your career and your skills, abilities and interests. The PROSPECTS PLANNER computer program will help you to do this.
• ATTEND CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY SERVICE TALKS. We put on a variety of talks and workshops every term - they are a good way of starting your career planning. 
• ATTEND CAREERS FAIR. This takes place in November as this is the time when many applications need to be made. Over 80 employers attend offering graduate jobs, sandwich placements, summer internships, summer work and postgraduate study.
• LEARN TO NETWORK. Networking will help you to get an inside view of careers through work shadowing and information interviews. The Careers Network puts students in contact with alumni for this purpose.

...To be continued