It’s been an interesting term with on-campus teaching, events and socials – maybe the first time for some students. Everyone’s probably ready for the Christmas vacation and the chance to take time out from University life.

If you find you’ve got a few spare moments between now and the start of Spring Term, why not give one or more!) of the following a go? Number 1 is a must, though!

Take some time and treat yourself

Whether it’s a box of chocolates, a new gadget or just having a few lie-ins, make sure you get plenty of both rest and fun this vacation.

Enhance your Handshake profile

Add your achievements and accomplishments to your account. Not only will it showcase your experience and skills to any employers looking at your profile, it will also be a handy record for you, when writing your CV or completing an application form.

Listen to a podcast episode or watch a virtual careers session

Find out about different careers by listening to our What do you actually do? Podcast, where York alumni talk about their jobs.

Watching one of the virtual careers sessions can help you recap key information, whether it’s on applying for jobs, writing a CV or researching your career options.

Refine your CV or practise your interview skills

You can upload your CV to CareerSet and get instant feedback with suggestions for improvement. If you’re applying for a particular job, you can also upload the job description with your CV and CareerSet will compare your application to the job requirements.

Practise answering interview questions by trying out Shortlist.Me. You can record and reflect on your answers (with the help of the system’s prompts), so that you can further improve your technique.

Choose one action to do in the Spring Term

That might be: 

• apply for a volunteering project
• attend a careers event – search Handshake, using the UoY filter
• search for internships, part-time work or graduate jobs (depending on which stage you’re at)
• join a student society or help organise a student-led event
• research your options and next steps by using the careers website
• Pick something from Your Career Journey

Careers research and planning can be quite daunting, but by taking actions in smaller chunks, it can be more manageable and you can feel much more in control of your next steps. Preparing in this way can also reassure you and help boost your confidence. 

If you’re not sure what action might be best for you, message the Careers Information Team or book a First Steps appointment via Handshake. No one expects you to be an expert – that’s our job!

Wishing you a great, relaxing Christmas vacation from all of us in Careers and Placements!