March 27, 2020, by Leah Sharpe

Keep your career planning moving forward

By Debra Henson, Senior Careers Advisor

Everything is on hold, but it will eventually pass. If you are fit and well and socially distancing, there are things you can do that will not only keep you occupied, but could keep your career planning ticking over and your CV moving forward, even when everything else is standing still.

So, what can you do?

1. Help the national effort if you are fit and well

Jobs

There are still some industries that are recruiting and need extra hands. The food industry is recruiting new workers to help in supermarkets and distribution. Visit their websites and see what is on offer.

Volunteering

Look for opportunities to help shielded people as a great way to keep busy and boost your CV. If you want to work in the public sector in the future, helping out would be a valuable contribution to a nationwide effort shared between councils, charities, community groups, businesses, and individuals. Help for shielded people will be organised via hubs in cities, towns and villages, through a network called Coronavirus Mutual Aid which will list the organisations that are participating.

The NHS are also looking for people to join the NHS Volunteer Responders. You will provide simple but vital support such as driving people to and from hospital, delivering food and medication, transporting equipment and supplies, and making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.

2. Still working on your career ideas? 

Now you have greater time to read at length, it is a great opportunity to use online tools to generate ideas or explore your existing ideas in more depth. Start with the Careers and Employability service website.

3. Create or update your CV, learn how to fill in application forms, practice psychometric tests, and understand what assessment centres are all about

We have excellent advice and mini tutorials on the Making Applications section of our website. You can see examples, watch videos and log in with your university account to a great practice psychometric test site for free.

4. Thinking of postgraduate study? 

Explore Prospects and Find A Masters to start looking into courses and finding out more about funding.

5. Virtual networking

Update your LinkedIn profile and connect with professionals in your field of interest. You may find the University of Nottingham alumni and others are willing to connect and chat with you to support your career planning and exploration. For tips on setting up and managing your LinkedIn account, watch our mini online tutorials.

6. Add some ‘micro credentials’ to your CV

Micro-credentials are online certificates that individuals can do to improve particular skills that would be useful in specific job sectors. They are often free or low-cost and provide learners with a digital badge when complete. 

Google Digital Garage is a great place to start for updating your digital skills. You can also learn to code via Code Academy.  

And learning a new language could add to your skill set. Use the free mobile apps that are out there.

We are all still here, online, to help. We are now offering careers appointments and skills workshops online through Microsoft Teams, Skype or phone. Talk about your ideas, or lack of them, get your CV reviewed, get feedback on application forms, or brush up on interview skills in readiness for the world opening up again.  

Book an appointment through MyCareer.

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