Eat less chocolate, go for a run each morning, get up at 6.30 am every day… personally, I have learned that most New Year’s resolutions fade out over a couple of weeks. In fact, the 19th of January – the first day of term! – is statistically apparently the day when most resolutions go awry. That’s why, this year, my resolution is not to give something up. Instead, it’s to do more things I’m scared of, some of those things that I’ve been putting off because getting round to doing them is a bit intimidating. Instead of making resolutions which affect the next few weeks, how about making one which may positively affect the rest of your life?
It sounds daunting, but everyone’s career starts somewhere. The New Year’s buzz is as good an excuse as any to kick-start your graduate plans. At the University of Bradford Career Development Services, we’re here to help you make your graduate options and decisions feel less daunting.
You may want to start by coming to one of our 15-minute drop-in sessions, which run from 10-12 and 1-3 every day in Student Central. During one of these sessions we can look over your CV or help you with general careers information enquiries. We may also recommend that you book a longer session with a Careers Advisor to chat about your options at greater length.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment with a Careers Advisor straight away. Here, we can discuss your graduate options – from volunteering abroad, to applying for a graduate scheme – and help you think about how you can work towards these goals in a realistic fashion, gaining the right work experience and building up your employability skills.
You can also get the ball rolling without leaving your seat. Sign up to Jobs Online to receive information about the latest opportunities within your field of interest. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram to receive information about our services and events. And throughout the term, you’ll also be able to follow this blog for articles and advice.
Starting here, we’re going to be posting regular blog articles throughout the week. Over the next few weeks, check these pages for weekly tips and tricks, Wisdom Wednesday advice on graduate schemes and events, lists of local part time jobs, and articles by students, graduates, employers and staff. Bookmark the page and check back regularly – we’ll also post Motivational Monday quotes and tips to help you stick to those 2015 resolutions!
For me, as an Information Adviser at the Career Development Services, starting out on a career after graduation is no longer an intimidating prospect on the horizon – but it certainly was a few years ago. So why not join me in the resolution to do more things which you are scared of, including forming those all-important plans for after graduation, in 2015?