With your winter vacation coming up, have you considered how you might spend the break from University?
The Winter vacation, and the addition of Preparation Week this year between Monday 6 and Friday 10 January, present a valuable opportunity to invest in your future career before your studies restart.
Preparation Week is your chance, reflect on your skills, come to an event, or start making future career plans.
To kick things off, why not sign up for one our intro talks:
- CVs, Cover Letters and Applications – Monday 6 January, 2 pm to 2:50 pm – online
- Prepare for interviews – Tuesday 7 January, 10 am to 10:50 am – online
- Finding and Funding further study – Wednesday 8 January, 3 pm to 3:30 pm – 5, Tyndall Avenue
Make the most of the careers service during our opening hours which change slightly as we approach the Winter break. Live Chat and opening times for walks-ins are:
- 9 to 13 December: 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday)
- 21 December to 5 January: Closed
- From 6 January: 10 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday) – Back to normal!
Read on for our top tips on how to maximise your time during the break and preparation week.
Know yourself
Ask yourself questions like: What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What motivates you? Our exploring careers options resources can take you through this process. We also run various events to help you explore your options. Why not check them out and get some booked in for next term.
The Bristol PLUS Award gives you a great structure to reflect on your skills and kick-start your career planning. Students who complete the PLUS Award are 10% more likely to feel confident about their career plans than those who don’t take the award.
Do some research
Investigate career paths commonly taken by graduates studying your subject using the Prospects ‘what can I do with my degree’ pages. Researching potential employers can also help you make informed decisions.
See our research sectors and employers guide for labour market information and advice on engaging with employers in your area of interest and check out our Employer events for next term.
Re-visit your CV and cover letter
Make sure your CV and cover letters stand out. See our CV resources and cover letter resources, which include top tips and examples. Our online feedback tool can provide you with detailed recommendations, including how to tailor these documents to specific roles, which is key to a successful application.
Review your skills
You may have identified some key skills through your research that you will need for the industry or roles you are interested in. You can reflect on, record and get suggestions for how to develop your skills now and in the future with My Skills. This will also help you effectively communicate your skills to employers when applying for roles.
Develop your skills
Part-time work at this time of year can be a great way to help you spread some festive cheer and also help you enhance the skills that all employers value; for example, working in a team and communication skills. Lots of companies require an extra pair of hands at this time of year. The Careers Service has information on how you can find part-time work.
December can also be a busy time for the voluntary sector with lots of opportunities available, ranging from charity shops to homeless shelters and residential homes for the elderly.
Check out Bristol SU’s Volunteering Hub.
