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Plan your development
The focus of this year will be successfully completing your degree and applying for jobs/ PG study. You can also continue building experience, but remember your degree is your priority. Make a plan for the year. Identify where you are now; complete a SWOT analysis, note your: Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats Consider how you can utilise the opportunities to address your weaknesses and create a termly action plan for your academic and personal development - this timeline will help. -
Research companies and sectors
Research is an important part of career planning. The more you know about a sector and the related companies the more targeted, and therefore successful, your applications and interviews will be. Information and resources available at Employment sector information. Unsure what you want to do? Have a careers discussion with LSE Careers. Book via Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you want the appointment. -
Record application deadlines
The closing dates for graduate training schemes vary between sectors but can be as early as October the year before you want to start and as late as February during the start year. Research companies schemes and make a record of their deadlines. More at Employment sector information. Want your application checked or unsure about your career route? Book a careers discussion appointment from 9:30am on the day you'd like it via Career Hub. -
Attend careers fairs
Fairs are an opportunity for you to speak directly to employers from a variety of sectors about their recruitment activities and company. Each academic year LSE Careers runs careers fairs for a variety of sectors, including: Volunteering
Consultancy
Finance and banking
Internships
Public sector and policy
Business and management
Law
Marketing, media and communication Fair dates and information will become available via Career Hub closer to the event. -
Volunteer
Volunteering is recognised by 94% of employers as equipping students with relevant employability skills. It also allows you to do something worthwhile for those less fortunate, give back to the community and meet new people. The Volunteer Centre at LSE is active in sourcing voluntary opportunities for LSE students. More information at LSE Volunteer Centre. -
Attend careers seminars
Careers seminars are run throughout the academic year by LSE Careers and cover topics such as how to write an effective application form, CV workshops, interview preparation and sector specific presentations. They're a great way to gain relevant knowledge and can be helpful if you're applying for full time, part time, internship, summer or voluntary opportunities. Visit Career Hub for dates, seminar descriptions and how to book. -
Feedback on your CV
Once you've attended a CV careers seminar (see Career Hub for seminar dates) and tailored your CV to a specific position, get feedback on its style and content in a CV and/or cover letter appointment. Book a 15 minute appointment from 9:30am on the day you want it via Career Hub. Information on CVs can be found at CVs, cover letters and applications. -
Have a careers discussion
A careers discussion is an opportunity for you to discuss anything you like about your career, whether you have no idea what you want to do or know your path exactly. Available throughout the year. To make a 15 minute careers discussion appointment with a careers consultant log into Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you would like an appointment. -
Apply for graduate schemes
Graduate training schemes give graduates the chance to gain hands-on experience in a company and sector aligned with their professional aspirations. Research companies and schemes that interest you; remember, fewer detailed applications will be more successful than many with no tailoring. Deadlines for grad schemes vary for sectors/companies, so check carefully, See employment sector information for LSE Careers' lists of graduate scheme deadlines. -
Improve commerical awareness
Commercial awareness is extremely important in the work place and is one of the areas employers tell LSE Careers that students lack at interview. Having commercial awareness shows genuine interest in an area, an understanding of the industry, business and the influence of external factors on business. Set up email alerts and RSS feeds to receive relevant news from newspapers, trade publications and professional bodies right to your inbox/phone. -
Apply for postgraduate study
If you are considering postgraduate study then you should be applying as soon as possible, but ideally by Christmas of the year before you want to apply. Some applications for courses open one to two years before the start of the course, so check for application information carefully. Visit Postgraduate study for more information. Make a careers discussion to talk through your options; book via Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you want the appointment. -
Assess your development
Use your SWOT analysis and personal development plan from the start of term to assess if you have reached your termly goals. Have you applied for graduate schemes, volunteered, etc? If you met your targets, well done! Add your experiences to your CV. Check your plan for next term; what do you need to do to meet the targets? Otherwise, adjust your plan for next term and decide how you'll meet the new targets. Be realistic about your personal achievements as your academics become priority. -
Book a mock interview
Practice your competency or case study interview technique by having a 30 minute practice interview at LSE Careers. Designed to help students who have an upcoming interview these appointments are available throughout the year. Book online via Career Hub as soon as you know your interview date. LSE students can book one competency or case study practice interview per term. Interview resources available at Interviews, assessment centres and psychometric tests. -
Have a careers discussion
A careers discussion is an opportunity for you to discuss anything career related with our careers consultants, whether you have no idea or know exactly what you want to do. You can have a careers discussion throughout the year, inside and outside of term time. To make a 15 minute careers discussion appointment log into Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you want the appointment. -
Assess your development
Use your SWOT analysis and personal development plan from the start of term to assess if you have reached your goals for this term. Add your experiences to your CV. Whether you’ve found a job or are looking for that perfect post you can still book careers discussion appointments with LSE Careers for up to two years after your graduation date. More at LSE Careers: Information for alumni. -
Attend summer careers events
LSE Careers runs a programme of careers workshops and seminars throughout the summer. Attend sessions on CVs, cover letters, applications forms, job search technique, and more. Careers discussion and CV/cover letter appointments also run throughout the summer. Seminar dates and descriptions available on Career Hub. -
Graduate!
Three years of hard work have now come to an end; now enjoy your graduation day... congratulations! As an LSE graduate you can use the LSE Careers appointment services for up to two years after your graduation date. More information about the careers service for LSE alumni can be found at LSE Careers: information for alumni. -
Attend the jobs fair
Employers recruiting for full-time, part-time, internship or graduate scheme vacancies attend this fair, looking to fill their positions with LSE students. Attend if you are graduating in 2013! Details of this fair will be added to Career Hub closer to the event.
