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Building the career you want: our top 10 tips for summer

Getting started on your graduate career can be a daunting task. But the summer holidays after you graduate, or between one academic year and the next, give you much-needed head space. Read on for our top 10 tips (and one bonus tip!) in making the most of the longest break of the year.

1. Get organised

Term-time is busy with studying, dissertation writing and exams, so many students go about job hunting in an ad hoc fashion.

In the summer, you have time to put a strategy together. So set yourself targets and deadlines, and write a timetable. Keep spreadsheets of your job applications and other approaches. It’s all good practice for the world of work!

2. Carry out online job searches

No doubt you’ve been doing this for a while – but the summer break gives you the time to take it to a whole new level. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Gradlink should be your first port of call! See details at the end of this article.
• Trade associations may have jobs pages. You can also check out their lists of members and look at company vacancy pages.
• Recruitment agencies will advertise some jobs. Sign up to be kept informed of the latest openings, and to have your CV put forward.

3. Use your university resources

Your university careers service will be open all year round (possibly with reduced hours), and will support recent graduates as well as current students.

Phuong from the Czech Republic, who studied Business at UWE Bristol and now works for Dyson, says: “Please use all the amazing FREE resources from the careers service like the career toolkit or the career coaching. It’s there for you and for your use so please use it. I’m being a little bias since I did my placement with everyone that works on that team BUT it’s super useful and I use it til this day to prep for my interviews and tailoring my CVs. You will thank me later!”

4. Check out graduate schemes

The closing date for applications to graduate schemes is usually the autumn, so the summer before your final year is the ideal time to prepare. If you have already graduated, you can generally still apply in the autumn for the following year.

5. Write speculative emails

Sometimes, the right role for you is one that isn’t even advertised. Over the summer, you’ll have space to write on-spec to companies, telling them about your experience, your career aims, and why you are just what they’re looking for!

Ideally, you should find out the name of the best person to contact: if this isn’t available online, show your initiative by giving the company a quick call.

Even if companies don’t have positions immediately, they could well keep your details on file. They might invite you in for a chat, which could lead to an internship – or, if your skills are really sought-after, they could even create a role especially for you.
 

6. Network like crazy!

Careers fairs and networking events run by professional organisations may be on hiatus over the holidays (though do keep an eye out). But there are other opportunities.

Brush up your LinkedIn profile. Michael from Canada, who studied Geology at Oxford and now works as a Marketing Consultant, says: “I applied on LinkedIn. That seems to be the future of recruitment and companies regularly check their accounts for applications. I invested a lot of time to beefing up my LinkedIn Profile so that employers would immediately be impressed. To beef up your LinkedIn profile, get people to write recommendations and endorse you for your skills. Also, make sure that you have detailed descriptions of all positions you′ve held in the past.”

And many people nail their first job through an informal connection, such as a friend of a friend. So get out there, socialise, and let people know that you’re a recent graduate looking for your first job. It gives you a welcome excuse to go to summer parties!

7. Take on a temporary or volunteer post

Many companies need staff cover during the UK school break from late July to early September (late June to mid August in Scotland).

A temporary or volunteer position at a company you’d like to work for, or in a relevant field, is a great way to get your face known, make connections, and acquire skills and experience.

Alternatively, now might be the moment to set up an internship or placement for the coming academic year.

8. Get the basics right

Is your CV up to date? How are your interviewing skills? And could you put together a presentation for interview if required?

Summer is an ideal opportunity to invest some time into getting the job-hunting basics right. Your university careers service is here to help.

Rashmi from Sri Lanka, who studied Business at UWE Bristol and now works for Deloitte, says: “Prepare a winning resume and remember to customise it to each opportunity you apply as it is important you match your resume to the requirements of the job role you are applying for. Don’t make things over complicated. Keep it simple and you will nail it if you are true to it.”

9. Create opportunities for yourself

Summer gives you a little breathing space in which to try out new things. So if you’ve got a business idea bubbling away in your brain, why not explore it?

Your side project could be as simple as earning a little money through tutoring or as grand as patenting an invention. Either way, it will give you valuable skills, experience and connections – and might even blossom into a fully-fledged enterprise.

10. Acquire new skills

Even if you’ve graduated, you still need to learn! Diksha from India, who studied Engineering at UWE Bristol and now works for GE Aviation Systems UK, has the following advice for job hunters.

“Start early. Research what jobs are out there. You don't need to apply to them straight away, but doing your homework and understanding what these jobs are asking for can give you a sense of where your gaps are, and how to start filling them. And even if you can't fill these gaps, you at least can let the employer know that you're aware about your development areas and looking for opportunities to work on them rather than going in completely unprepared.”

11. Take time to reflect and relax

In the scramble to get employment, you run the risk of starting on a career path that’s not right for you. So use the more relaxed summer months to reflect on your studies and your hoped-for role.

Huyen from Vietnam, who studied Accountancy/ Finance at Bath University and is now a Senior Executive in Market Risk Modelling for a bank, says: “The advice which I wish someone told me when I was a fresh graduate is that: Let′s spend your time to really understand the nature of whatever job you want to get into and find its meaning before really jumping into it. ‘Why you do it’ is more important than ‘What you do’ or even ‘How to do it’.”

Good luck – and enjoy your summer!

Register with Gradlink today

If you’re looking for a graduate job, or want advice for international students seeking a career in the UK or globally, register today with Gradlink. We offer a free jobs board, a database of global employers, and industry-specific advice.