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May 12, 2022, by Leah Sharpe

I Don’t Know Where to Look for Job Opportunities

By Jen Balloch, Employability Officer

Looking for job opportunities can feel like a daunting task. There is so much information out there and this can sometimes feel paralysing. Not to mention the endless questions that go together with job hunting. What do I want to do with my life? What am I good at? Where do I want to work? What experience do I need? How much experience do I need? And so on…

This might sound like a very basic first step, but thinking about what you are looking for will really help you to narrow your search and be more productive with your precious time. Are you looking for a part-time job to help with your cash flow, or are you looking to gain direct experience in a specific career or industry?

Places to look for jobs

Unitemps is a great first port of call for part-time work while at university. They’re based on campus, specialised in student recruitment, and have lots of opportunities at the university and surrounding areas.

– Look directly at company websites for vacancies too. Think about the type of industry you’d like to work in part-time and then narrow your search by looking at companies in this particular area. Don’t forget that a lot of part-time opportunities are also advertised on the premises.

If you’re looking to gain experience directly related to graduate roles, then think about these questions:

– What experience and skills have you developed which are transferable to the industry you want to enter? Remember, you can draw on lots of experiences to demonstrate skills and strengths: think about part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities, volunteering, and academic achievements.

– Where are the gaps? By thinking about the skills you’re lacking, you can use this to focus your search and look for roles where you will gain experience and skills that are directly related to your future career. Webpages such as ‘Career paths’ are a great place to start your research and to act as a springboard for further research. Likewise, Prospects is a great resource too.

Other useful resources

How Do I find vacancies? – view our range of useful resources focusing on job hunting and searching for vacancies.

MyCareer – We advertise around 4000 graduate vacancies through MyCareer every year.

Gradcracker – particularly focused on STEM subjects.

LinkedIn – a great place to network with existing contacts or new connections.

And lastly, if you are unsure about the type of career or industry you would like to work in, then we have some fantastic online courses available (for free!) which can really help you to think about your career planning.

Or, if you’d prefer to discuss your ideas with a member of our team, then you can do this by booking an appointment.

Posted in Careers AdviceGraduating in 2022