A Common Mistake
Ever wonder why so many graduates spend months applying and facing rejections before securing a job?
One of the key reasons is that many students mistakenly wait until their final year to explore career options, build a CV, gain essential skills, and apply for jobs.
This delay leads to:
- Missed opportunities
- Lack of application practice
- No industry experience
On the other hand, students who ”Start Early” gain major advantagesover everyone else.
Three Advantages of Students Who Start Early
- More likely to have gained experience in industry and obtained key skills
- More likely to know which specific field of work they are interested in
- Much more familiar with the job application process
Practical Steps: Example Timeline for a 3-Year Degree
First Year
- Start researching jobs in industries you're interested in
- Check for Spring Weeks and Insight Days
- Create a basic CV and set up a LinkedIn profile
- Apply to Spring Weeks and Insight Days (especially Sep–Jan)
Second Year
- Attend career fairs and networking events
- Refine CV and LinkedIn; consider finding a mentor
- Practice with mock interviews and online assessments
- Apply for summer internships (especially Aug–Mar)
Third Year
- Refine everything: CVs, Cover Letters, LinkedIn, Network, Interview Skills, Assessment Practice
- Attend graduate career fairs and explore job websites
- Apply for graduate roles and schemes (especially Aug–Mar)
Continue reading the rest of the handbook while thinking about what you can start implementing early -especially anything that has deadlines.
