February 7, 2017, by Carla

Five Ways to Kick-Start Your Career at a Drop-In

By Kathryn Wright, Employability Officer

Are you short on time? Do you feel stumped for career ideas? Are you nervous about asking for help?

Whether you’re based at Sutton Bonington, Jubilee or University Park, you can come and have an informal chat to a member of our careers team – no appointment required. Get some career inspiration, a second pair of eyes on your CV or some friendly advice about facing that next interview panel.

Here’s five ways you can kick-start your career at a drop-in:

1. Advice on your CV

The Guardian recently asked does your CV pass the 30 second speed test? Why? Because employers are often short on time and make snap decisions on whose CV goes in the interview pile and whose goes in the bin. With so little time to stand out, it’s important to get this vital tool right.

If your CV is looking a little bare or you’ve started applying for jobs and you’re still waiting for the phone to ring, a drop-in is a great place to start. We’ll be able to identify common issues – don’t worry, everyone makes them! – and offer some helpful advice about how to sell your skills on two sides of A4. Have you thought about layout? We’ll help you make the information that matters, stand out clearly to employers.

2. Help finding an internship, placement or graduate job

An internship is the ideal way to discover what career might suit you. It also looks great on the aforementioned CV. If you have no idea where to start looking for one, then start with us. You can find out where to begin your search online; there are plenty of websites we can direct you to. We also work closely with employers looking for students of all subject areas, so we know where to find the perfect opportunities for you.

3. How to prepare for interviews or assessment centres

Have you been invited to an interview or assessment centre with only days or hours to prepare? This can be a nerve-wracking process, even for the most experienced interviewee. First of all take a deep breath and then come and speak to us. We can help you prepare.

Sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming when you first get that phone call or email, but we can put things into perspective. We’ve got plenty of tricks up our sleeve to ensure you ace that interview, and can refer you to lots of other helpful resources too. All you need to do is ask.

4. Where to start with career planning

One of the most common things we hear is that you simply don’t know what you want to do. If you’re in this position, don’t panic – we can help you start thinking. Sometimes it’s just good to talk things through, and that’s what our friendly team are here for.

Whether you’re in your first year and you’re still figuring things out or in your final year with graduation looming, we’ll highlight some straightforward steps to help you begin your career research.

5. And many other ways…

You can ask us anything! We are a friendly, supportive bunch of people who want to help you get your career off to the best possible start. Just remember, there are no silly questions. If you want to ask what font to use on your CV or whether or not a tie is the right look for your interview – we’re here to ensure you make the right choice.

So, what are you waiting for? Come and speak to the team today. For more information on where drop-ins are held for your school or faculty, visit our website. 

 

Image credit: Davide Restivo from Aarau, Switzerland (Drops #1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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