If you haven’t already make sure you have a LinkedIn profile set up!
When you are at events, spend a bit of time building relationships with representatives of the organisations that are at these events, and you can follow up with a LinkedIn connection request.
This is a passive way to keep up to date with goings-on at companies you are interested in and the type of work the people do there. You can also directly follow companies you are interested in on LinkedIn.
Check out our page on LinkedIn & Online Presence for more tips and info!
The twelve Sheffield Graduate Attributes (SGAs) are those skills and characteristics that the university community and external partners, including graduate employers, have agreed are likely to be particularly beneficial to academic success, personal development and future employability. They fall into three sections: My learning, My impact and My self.
Maisie Colloby, BA Geography and Planning with Employment Experience graduate from 2023
“Completing this placement has given me such an insight into how planning consultancy works day-to-day, and given me some experience in the planning process. It has also given me the opportunity to experience office culture and the 9-5 routine for a year - which is definitely a culture shock after Uni! I think it has helped me to better understand what I want in my future career, as well as understanding what working routines (e.g. Hybrid working) help me to be more productive”
(Maisie is now working at Pegasus as a Graduate Planner, where she did her placement year!)
Identify Your Skills and Interests
Make use of mySkills to help you identify and track your skills!
mySkills is a tool to help you recognise and reflect on your skills development. You can add development experiences and also highlight skills you wish to develop
Look back over the slides from Autumn for a mySkills reminder
First, assess your skills, interests, and values to determine what you bring to the table. This will allow you to identify any gaps and better align your career goals. Next, research the skills sought by employers in various sectors.
You can then start to research what skills employers in different sectors are looking for. A good place to start is on the job profiles on Prospects and look at the case studies and information about working in different sectors found on the googlesite
2. Explore Career Ideas
Where to start?
Researching the job market and career pathways that interest you and narrowing down your options
Check the weekly Employability Newsletter - what jobs interest you? What are the requirements?
Where have USP alumni gone on to work? LinkedIn is a valuable tool for this
Speak with alumni and professionals through eMentoring, Careers Fairs, USP/RTPI/University events.
Compile a shortlist and consider the advantages and disadvantages of your options
This is the perfect time to consider work placements, internships or shadowing (have a look back over the slides from the placement session in October) to help you with gaining an insight into what each role on your shortlist entails
If you’ve had some work experience during your studies, think back to this - what roles did you enjoy and why? Which parts didn’t you enjoy so much?
3. Actions You Could Take For Your Career Plan
Prospects job profiles - select a job profile from a sector that interests you. Compare your skills and interests in mySkills, where are the gaps? How could you fill these gaps?
Look through alumni on the USP Graduate LinkedIn network - what roles and organisations interest you?
Are you planning to approach any of these for work experience?
What did you put on the questionnaire as your priorities for this semester? Make a start!
Decide if a placement year might be of interest to you (speak with the PEER team) gpl-employability@sheffield.ac.uk