Its your final year and you are busy with final projects, dissertations and exam preparation. However it is important to start thinking about what you do next and to start preparing for the next steps in your career journey.
Career help and advice
The most important thing you can do is make the most of the services and resources that are available to you at university. The Careers and Employability Service offer help and advice and so much more to students and alumni for up to 3 years after you graduate:
- Resources available on the Careers and Employability website
- Events to help you improve your skills, learn from and talk to employers and alumni and help you in the recruitment process. All these events can be booked through Target Connect via the events calendar.
- 1:1 appointments with a careers advisor, CV and application reviews, and quick guidance appointments bookable through Target Connect via the appointments tab.
- Graduate jobs, internships, placements and opportunities advertised through the opportunities tab on Target Connect
- The Arts and Humanities Employability and Placement Officer offers 1:1 help and advice with CV’s, applications, and finding Graduate jobs and Internships. Email artshumsemployability@kent.ac.uk or book a 1:1 appointment on Teams or in-person via Target Connect. Go to appointments and select online or on campus Arts and Humanities student appointment with Kate Buchan
Reflect on your Skills
Think about the skills you have developed as part of your degree and how they can be transferred to a graduate job. As an Arts and Humanities Student you will develop skills such as:
- Written and verbal communication
- Critical analysis
- Research skills
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Team working skills
- IT skills including Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Teams etc.
You will need to back up these skills with examples of when you used them or how you developed them. When talking about examples of when you used a skill use the STAR approach – situation – the situation you had to deal with, task – the task you were given to do, action – the action you took, result – what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience.
Update/improve your CV
- CV (kent.ac.uk)
- CVs and cover letters | Prospects.ac.uk
- CareerSet – personalised feedback on your CV
- Remember to tailor your CV to each job you apply for
- CV Review – book an appointment to have your CV reviewed via Target Connect
Research careers, job roles, employers, Graduate schemes and jobs
- What can I do with my degree in … – Careers and Employability Service – University of Kent
- I want to work in … – Careers and Employability Service – University of Kent
- Job profiles | Prospects.ac.uk
- Employer profiles | Prospects.ac.uk
- Organisations – Search | targetjobs
Start applying for Jobs
- Don’t delay in starting to apply for Graduate jobs as practice makes perfect and you will get better as you apply for jobs
- Keep a record of companies you are interested in applying to, deadlines (don’t wait for the deadline to apply as some employers will close the job early if they get lots of applications), when you applied and a copy of the application for future reference.
- Tailor each CV, cover letter and or application for each individual job based on the skills requested in the job description and to each individual employer
- Have your CV, Cover letter or application reviewed by the Careers Service or Employability and Placements Officer by booking an appointment via Target Connect
- Prepare for a psychometric test with Graduates First
- Prepare for an assessment centre
- Prepare for an interview
Good Luck!
Don’t forget to use the Careers and Employability Service and Employability and Placements Officer for help and advice at any time by booking an appointment via Target Connect