Graduate Final Year Planning

Unless you are extremely lucky your career isn’t going to find you. It’s going to take a concerted effort to be proactive in finding a job after graduation and forward planning is essential. Fortunately we have detailed a monthly guide to planning your job search.

September - Start your final year by visiting your careers service to find out what help they can offer. This can include individual guidance, careers workshops, vacancies, practice interviews and aptitude tests, etc.

Thinking about post-graduate study? Check out courses and opportunities with your current education establishment and others you may be interested in attending.

October - Major employers begin advertising graduate training programmes, the first closing dates are usually in December.

Employers begin presentations at universities around the country. This gives you a great opportunity to find out about different companies, research careers areas that interest you and compare them with other areas in their sector. Employers may also begin interviews on campus and at regional sites. Before any interviews, research the company and the positions available; try to prepare answers for any likely questions they may ask you during an interview.

November - Closing dates for Christmas vacations placements are likely to be around this time. These can be the first stage of the recruitment process and can provide a valuable company insight.

December - During the Christmas vacation, prepare speculative approaches for jobs where appropriate.

January - Celebrate the New Year with a careers action plan and implement it!

February - Around this time employers begin assessment centres which can incorporate second interviews, aptitude tests in verbal and numerical reasoning, presentations, group and individual exercises. Make sure you are prepared.

March - Take time to review your career plans. If they are not working then it may be advisable to check in with the careers service again to get some further advice.

April - Hand in your dissertation, do revision and get those final exams out of the way. Concentrate on getting your degree for the time being…

May - With your dissertation and final exams out of the way, celebrate, rest and recuperate.

June to July - Results time and perhaps also a time to review your career plans.

Don’t forget your university careers service. You may not be eligible for the same range of services once you have finished your course but you can still use your careers service for up to five years after you graduate.

Summer recruitment fairs will also continue around the UK which gives you another great chance to meet graduate recruiters face to face.

August - Taking time out? Ensure you are gaining skills and knowledge and are ready to begin your career search when you return.