Timetable for graduate job action - first years

As you progress through university, you'll need to take the right steps at the right time to improve your career prospects when you graduate. Here's what to do in your first year and when.

Autumn term

Visit your Freshers' Fair. There will be a wide range of clubs and societies so join up and get involved. You can try your hand at new things and see where your strengths and interests lie.

Think of other ways to improve your skills using the facilities available at your university: learn or improve your language skills, do an IT course or become a rep for your department or student hall of residence.

Spring term

Start to plan your summer. Think about work experience you can gain during the holidays. This may or may not be relevant to your graduate career aspirations,

but whatever you do will provide you with valuable transferable skills: track your skills with our work experience tracker worksheet.

Some companies offer vacation placements to first years, while other schemes, such as BUNAC or Camp America, offer good opportunities to travel and work at the same time.

Summer term

Think about how you can use your summer holidays and next autumn term to give your career a boost, maybe with a bit of voluntary or extra curricular work, like writing for your student paper. Visit your university's careers service and talk to a careers adviser for ideas.

Pick up a copy of TARGETjobs Work Experience or TARGETjobs Work Experience Law from your careers service - they both contain great advice as well as info on employers offering vacation schemes.

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