As the Winter Vacation approaches, we hope that you are looking forward to taking some time out with friends and family. If you are able to your part-time job, or will be volunteering for a good cause over the festive period, these activities will be valuable additions to your CV.  You could also set aside time to reflect on your career plans and ideas for the future.

Here are some tips and useful resources for each different year group:

1^st Years – 7 tips to explore careers ideas and build employability skills

You’ve successfully made the transition to university during a challenging year, so you definitely deserve to enjoy some quality time!  You could also take some time to reflect on where you are now.

1. Do you have any ideas of which career you would like to pursue? If you do, how can you build your skillset to become more attractive to employers? 
2. If you are unsure of a career path, focus on developing your employability skills through part time work, volunteering or consider taking an active role in a club or society.
3. Do some careers research.  You don’t have to decide straight away, but by considering your strengths and weaknesses, you will start to realise what will motivate you in a work environment. Take a strengths assessment here.
4. Plan your summer! Are there ways that you can gain work experience to enhance your CV, or develop your employability skills?  Will you plan an exciting holiday where you can develop language skills and learn about the culture/industries of another country?
5. Our leaflets on Getting Started and Finding Work Experience will help.
6. Search for summer work and part time jobs on Surrey Pathfinder.
7. Get started on the Employability Award.

2^nd Years – 6 tips to prepare for placement and working on employability skills

1. Are you planning to apply for Professional Training? Write your CV and start the Professional Training Module to get a head start next year.
2. If you’ve decided not to do a placement, plan your summer so you can gain work experience to help you stand out at the end of your final year.
3. Try reading Writing Effective CVs & Covering Letters, Finding Work Experience and Student Jobs & Volunteering for some tips.
4. Search for summer work and part time jobs on Surrey Pathfinder.
5. Read about what current students are doing on their placements in their blogs via our Active Placement blog site.
6. Get started on the Employability Award. Remember you can back-date activities from your 1^st year.

Professional Training Placement Students – reflecting on experience and developing skills

Hopefully settled into your working environment, you are developing essential work-based skills that will strengthen your CV and future applications.

1. Take some time to reflect on the additional skills and experiences you have gained on your placement. How have you increased your skillset over the past few months?
2. Your placement may have helped you decide on a career path, or perhaps you feel this is not the right area for you. Either way, your experience will be worthwhile and you may have demonstrated your ability to adapt by working remotely.   What have you learnt about your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes?  Does the working environment/size of the organisation suit you?  Are there areas you would like to develop during the remainder of your placement?  Perhaps you could take on a project or develop leadership skills in the New Year.

Final Year and PGT students – 4 tips on maximising your year

1. Do you need any support with your future plans, making job applications or applying for further study? Have a look at our leaflets for Getting Started, Application Forms and Applying for postgraduate taught courses.
2. Consider how you have developed as a potential employee during your time at university. Be ready to sell your knowledge, skills and abilities and demonstrate your willingness to contribute to the world of work.
3. Leaflets including The Job Interview will be useful at this stage. You can also find help in our subject specific Useful Careers Resources for current students and graduates
4. Get started on the Employability Award. Remember you can back-date activities from your entire time at Surrey. 

How can I get help with starting my career plans?

Whatever stage you are at, remember we are here to help you with your ideas and plans.  We run the following zoom drop-ins where we can answer short questions or provide information on resources and how to book a longer careers advice appointment:
– Have you got a question about careers? Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-12pm
– Online Placement drop-in Monday 12-1pm.

In addition, it will be important to return to university feeling refreshed and ready for 2021, so do take a break and relax this winter vacation.

Happy Winter Vacation from Employability & Careers!