What I wish I’d done…advice from a recent graduate

Recent graduate @Maddy shares her experience with the King’s Careers & Employability team on how to make the most of opportunities at King’s.

After a long summer, September and the start of the academic year are finally here. Each year is a chance to think about your future career direction and enhance your employability with the help of King’s Careers.

But there’s no need to feel overwhelmed…..

I finished my Masters at King’s College three weeks ago and I’m passing on my accumulated wisdom so that you can hit the ground running. Here are three top tips for each academic year in an undergraduate degree to help you make the most of Careers and Employability.

 

First year

Most importantly, congratulations for starting at such a brilliant institution. To set yourself up for success:

1 –  Get to know the Careers and Employability pages on Keats

These pages will be your best friend throughout your degree – so get familiar with them. Here you’ll be able to access our internship scheme, King’s Experience Awards, and advice about how to work through future career thinking

2 –  Get registered on King’s CareerConnect

This is the second important site to get your teeth into – use this site to register for careers events, one-to-one guidance and advice appointments, and to search our database of jobs

3 –  Consider part-time work or volunteering

This can be a great way of getting new experience, meeting new people and maybe discovering a new passion.

 

Second year

Don’t worry if you don’t have a set career path – there’s a whole range of careers activities to get you thinking (or re-thinking!). Use this year to start getting some experience that you can use to learn about yourself and what you value in a workplace:

1 –  Consider doing an internship

They’re a great way of dipping your toe into an industry and trialling it out. Check out advice and exclusive King’s opportunities. 

2 –  Attend a Careers Event

Now you’re a frequent and well-practiced visitor to the King’s Keats site (hint hint), you’ll have seen our huge range of career-focussed events – find one that suits you and register to attend, whether that’s a networking evening, panel event, or employer fair

3 –  Work towards King’s Experience Awards

These are great ways of reaching beyond your curricular activities, whilst getting recognition. 

 

Third/final year

1 –  Use our jobs pages on CareerConnect

Whether you’re on the hunt for a graduate position, an internship, or some overseas volunteering, we post hundreds of job opportunities here

2 –  Use our test prep

King’s has exclusive access to test prep material to help you prepare for psychometric and competency tests. 

3 –  Book an appointment with us

If you need general careers advice then book a careers guidance session, and if you have a specific job application or interview to prepare for sign up for an application advice session, or a practice interview.

 

Graduates throwing their hats in the air

Remember that Careers and Employability is here to help you throughout your journey, whatever stage in careers planning you’re in!