Now that the January blues have finally worn off and exam results have been released, it may feel as if there are no more excuses getting in the way of you and the perfect summer job.
In today’s competitive job market, getting employment has never been so useful and summer internships are a key opportunity to prepare yourself. So, whatever year you’re in and looking for an internship or a part-time job, here are some tips to get you heading in the right direction.
The University Careers Centre, situated behind Charles Morris is the ideal place to discuss potential pathways. Here, you can speak to a team of experienced careers advisers and find guidance on planning your next steps. With a drop-in service running every weekday from 1-4pm, you can consider summer internship options, get your CV checked and receive application support. If you have no idea where to begin, make an appointment with a Careers Consultant – where you can discuss relevant options with your faculty adviser. There are also a number of industry guides and top graduate employer books to help you gain a deeper understanding of the types of avenues you could pursue.
According to the 2018 High Fliers Graduate Market survey, more than 80% of the country’s top graduate employers offer paid work experience for students and recent graduates, totalling nearly 13 000 jobs. Never has there been more opportunity to gain an insight into the professional employment market.
However, Pablo, a university careers adviser, stressed the importance of keeping your confidence when making applications and not to be disheartened if you receive a rejection. “On average, most students fail at the first hurdle but what is important is to build and reflect on this experience. Try and get feedback from the company if possible and come back to the Careers centre to see if there are any opportunities for further improvement.”
On MyCareer, check the vacancies on the ‘Leeds Internship Programme’ section where you can find internships exclusively for University of Leeds students.
Joblink, run by Leeds University Union, is another useful page to find opportunities for employment. Whilst not advertising official internship programmes, here you can find temporary summer jobs in Leeds and beyond, and expand your employability skills profile.
If it’s volunteering you’re looking for, head to the Spring Volunteering Fair, hosted at the Riley Smith Theatre on Thursday 22nd February where you can chat with over 30 charities and find ways to get involved. Volunteering is not only a great way of filling out your CV and widening your experience, but can also be a fun opportunity to meet different people you might not encounter in daily university life.
There is never a good a time as now to start considering your options and get your summer plans sorted. Good luck!
Head to:
www.mycareer.leeds.ac.uk
www.luu.org.uk/jobs
to find out more!
Kira Norris