THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD
Careers year by year Finalists and one-year masters’ Develop your plan and extend your research
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It is never too late to start thinking about your career. Make a commitment to make a start and give yourself the best chance of success. Turn to the Developing Your Career Ideas section and make plans to talk to a careers adviser. If you already have clear goals, or even fuzzy ideas, research online and meet employers at fairs and at company presentations. See the Events Calendar on CareerConnect for dates and to book your place. Research options of further study and apply early to popular programmes.
• Consider participating in our skills programmes and •
Insight programmes if you haven’t already done so. Apply to our own Summer Internship Programme from January onwards.
Network and build your visibility
• Meet contacts and alumni at events and reach out to • • •
Make applications and prepare for interviews
them. Use LinkedIn and social media as research tools, to follow targeted companies and make yourself easier to find. Attend the cringe-free networking workshop run by the Careers Service each term, bookable on CareerConnect. For some sectors – such as creative careers, journalism, publishing, charities – networking and speculative approaches can be important to uncover opportunities: thinking six months ahead is key.
• Understand your motivations, your strengths and be • • • •
ready to support your applications with evidence as discussed in the Application Essentials guidance. Find the workshops you need on our Events Calendar on CareerConnect. Polish your application skills and seek advice from a careers adviser if you want a second opinion on your CV, cover letters or application form. Submit applications for both your plans A and B (and plan C …) in parallel. Be ready for online tests and interviews, some of these happen straight after you have submitted your application.
It’s not too late to develop your skills and experience
Penultimate year Start to focus on what you might do after graduating
• Review your career preferences and interests, or start • •
• Continue to be fully involved in student life through societies, volunteering and extra-curricular activities.
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your self-assessment. The Developing Your Career Ideas section will help. Follow the advice to finalists above – the same rules apply! Plan, research and develop your CV – attend relevant workshops organised by the Careers Service. Attend the relevant careers fairs. Get into your job-market research and look for application deadlines – be aware of deadlines as early as October for consulting, banking and the Civil Service among others. Apply for summer internships, including those
www.careers.ox.ac.uk
