University of Manchester Careers Blog

Summer is here, you have just finished exams so let’s not try anything too strenuous.

1 While lazing on the beach

• Close your eyes and think back on this last year, what did you really enjoy and why?
• When have you felt most comfortable and motivated?  Why do you think that was?
• Now think about something you are looking forward to, why is that?
• Do you like being with friends or alone?
• Are you usually the instigator of an activity or are you the one that gets things done?

Understanding your personal preferences will help you make decisions about your future.

 2 At a festival or while travelling

You may meet up with fellow students and graduates from all over the world i’m sure you will get chatting. Ask:

• Where are you from?
• What do you  do? Are they studying or working?  Where is that – what’s it like?
• What are you doing after this?   Going travelling, summer jobs perhaps they have a graduate job lined up?

Well done you are now officially networking!

You could get all sorts of great ideas for things to do and maybe even make contacts to visit places and people.

By learning about what other people are doing and what they enjoy you can start to understand the options open to you.

3 At home visiting friends and family

Make small talk with the relatives, ask questions:

• How are things at work? ( it’s a good opening line when you have probably forgotten what they do!)
• What’s the best thing about being a ….  (they will probably tell you the worst things too)
• Ask family if you could go into work with them one day and see what they do?  Maybe they can’t do that but they may know someone who would be willing.

By talking about or experiencing different work places and roles you will start to understand what you might like and dislike.  It will help you understand what you want your life to look like.

4 Your summer job. The ultimate self realisation experiment!

From 3 months working in a coffee shop I learned that I hate standing up for 8 hours a day and that boredom is my biggest enemy.

Love or hate your job there is always something to be gained (as well as the money!)

• Is it what you thought it would be like?
• What do you like and dislike about it?  Do you know why you love or hate bits of your job ? Is it the people or the task?

It doesn’t matter how unrelated you think your summer job is to your future career, getting to know what matters to you will come in pretty handy in the future.

What next?

It’s up to you, but if you need someone to chat it over with give us a ring 0161 275 2829 or leave us a message on Facebook

…..Finally one top tip!

Be nice to the people you meet this summer. You never know when you will meet them again and they could be the one employing you!