Career Planning Action PlanYour careers action plan for each year at university
Don’t leave it until your final year to start thinking about your future career! There are many things that you can be doing throughout your time at university to improve your chances of successfully entering the career or postgraduate study of your choice, and some important deadlines. The timings noted relate to opportunities in a variety of 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. This is especially important if you will be spending a year away from the University as part of your course, studying abroad or on placement. Any dates given are approximate and may vary: you should 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. For detailed help on creating your own action plan see our Action Planning page |
Don't get stopped in your career by missing important deadlines. |
FIRST YEAR
- Complete the CAREERS EMPLOYABILITY AWARD ON MOODLE. This is the most effective way of increasing your chances of getting a graduate job. It takes about 12 hours to complete and is free of charge to all Kent students. 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.
- See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm for more information
- Learn how to identify & develop your employability skills and “sell” them to employers.
- 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 socialising. See www.kentunion.co.uk/home/content/pages/activities for some ideas
- START TO 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.
- DEVELOP YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS. Computing skills are important for almost all jobs. The Computing Service offers you the chance to gain the “European Computer Driving Licence” while at Kent, covering core skills such as word-processing, use of email and the Internet, databases and PowerPoint. Details are at: www.kent.ac.uk/informationservices/computing/training
- 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). Also use the Kent Union Jobshop to get part-time jobs during term time.
- 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 SERVICE TALKS. We put on a variety of talks and workshops every term - they are a good way of starting your career planning. See the listing at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm
- ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT CAREERS FAIR in November in Eliot College
- LEARN TO NETWORK. Networking will help you to get an inside view of careers through workshadowing and information interviews. The Careers Network puts students in contact with alumni for this purpose.
SECOND YEAR
This is a vital year for developing career plans and for testing them out through work experience to make sure that they are right for you. If you spend time on this during your second year it will save you a lot of work during your final year!- TAKE THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT CAREERS EMPLOYABILITY AWARD ON MOODLE www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm if you haven't already done so.
- KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS. If you also analyse and record them in the MyFolio personal development planner, this will help you to complete competency-based application forms for internships and graduate jobs (see below)
- RESEARCH CAREER OPTIONS. This web site is a good starting point for this! Also use www.prospects.ac.uk and the print resources in the Careers Information Room
- ATTEND CAREERS SERVICE EVENTS. We put on a variety of talks each term - they are a good way of starting your career planning. See the listing at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm
- ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT CAREERS FAIR in November in Eliot College
- WORK HARD TO GET A GOOD DEGREE. Many large organisations require an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), so it pays you to work hard academically to try to achieve this. If you are applying for jobs during your final year, employers will normally ask for a predicted degree class – the results of your second-year exams and assessments will be used as evidence to support your prediction.
- UPDATE YOUR CV You will have new things to put on your CV, such as summer jobs, so keep it up-to-date. This will save you much effort later, and put you ahead of the crowd.
- PRACTISE FILLING OUT APPLICATION FORMS. Most employers’ application forms require you to demonstrate that you have the competencies needed for the job by showing how you have used these skills in other situations. If you start to think about your employability skills now, and to practise answering these questions, it will save you a lot of time in your final year!
- APPLY FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS. There is tremendous competition for summer internships with major graduate recruiters and, although most closing dates for these are in January, you should not leave it until the last minute to research employers and make applications: start in the Autumn Term!
- PLAN POSTGRADUATE STUDY ABROAD If you want to study abroad, then you really need to begin gathering information 12 – 18 months before you intend to start your study. This is especially true for the USA where deadlines for entry and scholarship applications are likely to be early in your final year
FINAL YEAR
One major recruiter of graduates, told me that the early applicants who applied in September and October of their final year, tended to be the cream of the crop. They tended to be the brightest, best motivated, best researched and most organised applicants: a large proportion of these were offered jobs, a much higher proportion than those who applied near the deadline. |
September
- APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR CIVIL SERVICE FAST STREAM. This includes the Home Civil Service and the Diplomatic Service. Applications open in mid-September and close in late November.
- APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR PGCE (TEACHER TRAINING) COURSES You can apply for these teacher training courses from the beginning of September of the year before you want to enter. It's wise to apply as early as possible, especially for primary teaching and for History secondary courses, as places rapidly fill up. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm
- START TO APPLY FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDY ABROAD - some deadlines for entry and scholarship applications, particularly in the USA, could be this early.
- TAKE THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT CAREERS EMPLOYABILITY AWARD ON MOODLE www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm if you haven't already done so.
October
- PICK UP A DIRECTORY OF EMPLOYERS AND START TO THINK ABOUT WHICH ONES YOU WILL APPLY TO. Graduate directories, such as Prospects which contain details of the recruitment needs of major employers of graduates are available from the Careers Service from October onwards. You can use these to get an idea of companies that you might wish to apply to and whether you can meet their requirements.
- CHECK OUR VACANCY DATABASE. We have a new and continually-updated vacancy database containing jobs sent to us directly by graduate recruiters with starting dates in the summer or autumn after you graduate.
- ATTEND CAREERS SERVICE TALKS AND WORKSHOPS. We put on a wide variety of talks and workshops for finalists, covering everything from application and interview skills, to aptitude tests, to postgraduate study.
- ATTEND EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS ON CAMPUS … Every year employers give presentations at Kent to help students find out more about the organisation and to encourage them to apply. See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm for the latest list of these presentations and other careers events.
- …AND RECRUITMENT EVENTS OFF-CAMPUS. There are many graduate recruitment events this term, where exhibitors will promote their graduate opportunities. They offer a good chance to talk directly to recruiters and gather information before making an application.
- WATCH OUT FOR EARLY CLOSING DATES! Some major graduate recruiters have early deadlines for their graduate schemes.
- INVESTIGATE THE “HIDDEN JOB MARKET” If you have done everything suggested above and not found any posts that interest you, this could be because these jobs are not advertised here – perhaps not anywhere! In many popular areas, such as the media, the arts and heritage sectors or advertising, entry-level jobs are rarely advertised as employers can fill the few such jobs that arise from speculative applications. See our pages on Creative Jobhunting to find out how you can tap into this market – but remember that these employers are unlikely to have any vacancies at this stage for next summer: they recruit as and when staff are needed.
- POSTGRADUATE STUDY. If you are planning postgraduate study or research in the UK, whether academic or professional career training, start to investigate opportunities this term. Although there may not be any application deadlines, some of the most popular courses fill up quickly.
- APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS CLOSE MID-OCTOBER. There are a number of accelerated (4 or 5 year) Graduate Entry to Medicine courses, some of which are open to non-science graduates. Application is through UCAS: all are highly competitive!
November
- ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT CAREERS FAIR in Eliot College
- CONTINUE TO WATCH OUT FOR EARLY CLOSING DATES! Many popular graduate recruiters have deadlines this month, including advertising agencies, investment banks and the Civil Service Fast Stream
- MORE EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS ON CAMPUS AND MORE CAREERS TALKS AND WORKSHOPS www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm
- CHECK YOUR CAMPUS EMAIL REGULARLY for emails from the CAS about events and opportunities
- CLOSING DATE FOR JET PROGRAMME. The JET programme, sponsored by the Japanese Government, places foreign graduates as English language assistants in Japanese high schools. No knowledge of Japanese, or TEFL experience, is required. The closing date for applications is normally in late November.
- LAW CONVERSION COURSES FOR NON-LAW GRADUATES. Applications for law conversion courses open in November – applications are considered on a rolling basis.
- PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS AND ASSESSMENT CENTRES
December - lots of closing dates this month!
- CLOSING DATES FOR MANY EMPLOYERS. Many employers have closing dates for applications in early or mid December, so don't think that you can leave your applications until the Christmas break!
- APPLY FOR SOCIAL WORK COURSES. Applications for postgraduate social work courses are made through UCAS: although the closing date is usually mid-January you should ideally apply before this. Successful candidates have normally gained substantial experience relevant to social work, through voluntary or other related work. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/socialwork.htm
- NON-LAW STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A LEGAL CAREER should apply for summer vacation placements with solicitors
Spring Term
- CONTINUE TO monitor the vacancy database (there are still plenty of jobs being advertised!) and/or make applications for jobs or postgraduate study
- APPLY FOR AHRB AND ESRC FUNDING. The closing date for Arts and Humanities Research Council awards for study in the Humanities, and also for Economic and Social Science Research Council non-quota awards, is usually in early May but you should apply well before this.
- PREPARE FOR ASSESSMENT CENTRES. Throughout this term and the Spring vacation many employers are holding interviews and assessment centres. These may involve group exercises, presentations and psychometric tests: make sure you are well-prepared.
- RETHINK YOUR STRATEGY? If your applications so far have been unsuccessful, you may want to discuss your next step with a careers adviser. We may be able to help you make your applications more effective, or suggest career areas where your skills and personal qualities will be more relevant.
Summer Term
- Concentrate on your revision and your final exams!
After your final exams
- SUMMER RECRUITMENT FAIRS. These are events where a large number of employers will gather at a particular university to recruit graduates. They take place all over the country, the largest being in London in late June.
- SEE A CAREERS ADVISER if you need any last-minute advice or guidance -we are open all summer and you are entitled to use the Careers and Employability Service at any time for three years after you graduate.
- KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE CAREERS SERVICE. Leave your contact details with us via our contact form, so we can email you with details of vacancies and events. If you get a job or place on a course, then please let us know. This information helps us to advise future graduates about the job market and options open to them.
- LEAVING KENT? You can often use Careers and Employability Services at other universities for careers advice and information – see www.prospects.ac.uk/links/CareersServices for details. If your nearest university does not offer any help to other universities’ graduates then you can always contact us by phone or email for advice
- APPLY FOR JOBS ADVERTISED IN LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS. Now you have completed your studies you can apply for immediate vacancies advertised in newspapers and magazines as well as on the web and in our vacancy database
- MAKE SPECULATIVE APPLICATIONS TO EMPLOYERS. Don’t just rely on advertised job vacancies – not all jobs will be advertised, especially those in competitive areas such as the media. In this case, you will have to make the first approach by way of speculative applications using a CV.
- USE RECRUITMENT AGENCIES as part of your job-seeking strategy (but they should not be your only method of job-seeking)
September
- The graduate recruitment cycle begins again – as a recent graduate you can still apply to graduate training schemes starting next year.
Last fully updated 2012