University of Manchester Careers Blog

Written by Samantha Oates-Miller, Careers Insights and Graduate Support Assistant at The Careers Service

Your final semester is a great time to plan for your next steps after graduation. There are lots of things you can do now to ensure you finish your degree career-ready.

Here are our top 7 to get you started.

1. Think about what you enjoy and what you’re good at:

• Find out how to identify your strengths and how to apply these to different sectors and jobs.
• What skills has your degree course given you? Consider your career options based on your subject to help you think about how your skills match to career routes.
• Access a range of questionnaires on Profiling for Success, including personality and a career inventory.

2. Consider how your strengths, skills and interests can be applied to different sectors:

• Use the Prospects Career Planner to match your skills, motivations and ambitions to a range of industries that could be perfect for you.
• Explore occupations, sectors and industries using the Which Career? section of the Careers Service website.
• Get career inspiration by connecting with alumni from your course on LinkedIn and having a look at the sectors they went on to work in.

3. Explore graduate recruiters from sectors you’re interested in:

• Find out how to effectively research different graduate employers and jobs.
• Attend online employer sessions to find out more about different graduate recruiters.
• Don’t forget about smaller businesses with fantastic graduate opportunities. Find out about the benefits of working for a small organisation as a new graduate and keep up to date with Manchester-based opportunities through Manchester Graduate Talent.

4. Keep applying for graduate jobs:

• Find a huge range of graduate vacancies across various sectors and locations on CareerConnect. In fact, the highest number of full-time vacancies is always in May/June, just before you graduate.
• Look for graduate jobs by sector using Graduate Job Search.
• Remember, not all graduate jobs are advertised in the same way. Find hidden opportunities by developing a winning job-hunting strategy.

5. Put your best foot forward when applying for graduate jobs:

• Create high-quality, tailored applications and get advice on interviews with our online application and interview resources.
• Use CareerSet to get instant, personalised feedback on your CV or book an application advice appointment for more advice on how you can tailor your applications to the roles you’re applying for. 
• Get on-demand interview practice and feedback with Shortlist.Me or book a practice interview with a Careers Consultant.

6. Continue to boost your skills, confidence and CV during your final semester:

• Search for remote part-time work or volunteering opportunities on CareerConnect to find out the kind of work you enjoy (or don’t!), expand your network and enhance your employability.
• Get virtual work experience on your CV, designed by leading graduate recruiters across a range of occupational areas from human rights, law and climate change to design, audit and cyber security.
• Enhance your understanding and experience of key topics by doing an online course. Check out our list of free and low-cost online training resources. 

7. Consider postgraduate study:

• Lots of great postgraduate study programmes are still being advertised. Whether you’re considering a Master’s or a PhD, researching your options is key.
• Find out more about applying for further study, get feedback on your personal statement or application by booking an application advice appointment or find out more about postgraduate study interviews.
• Research your options for funding postgraduate study or research.

The Careers Service is here to help you. Now, and for up to two years after you finish your course. If you would like to talk to a Careers Consultant about your next steps, book a careers guidance appointment.