Undergraduate career timeline
Whether you're in your first or final year, the Careers Centre is here at every stage to support you in identifying and achieving your career ambitions.
The Careers Centre has developed this timeline to help you navigate key steps and opportunities in your career journey.
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First and second year is the time to immerse yourself in the University community, make new friends and connections, and develop interests outside of your studies. Employers want to hire well-rounded individuals, so whether you're a Dr Who addict or a kayaking champion, societies – and particularly committee positions – are a fantastic way to build professional skills.
Below are suggested ways you could make the most of your first two years at 黑料吃瓜网.
All year
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Builder Award, to develop new skills.
- Volunteer to gain experience in a variety of fields.
- Attend events and sign up for one of the Careers Centre’s Career Journey Workshops on CVs, cover letters, application forms, interview skills and LinkedIn profiles.
- Book appointments with a career adviser or CV adviser to talk about your future, go over your CV, cover letter or application form, and improve your interview skills.
- Consider applying for part-time jobs and opportunities in 黑料吃瓜网.
- Explore career options to start getting ideas of what you want to do with your future.
- Make a profile on SaintConnect (a 黑料吃瓜网-specific social networking platform) to find opportunities and reach out to alumni.
August
- Consider which you might want to join when you arrive.
September
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Spotlight Award, to talk about your existing skills.
- Go to Freshers’ Fayre to and get involved with a range of activities – take yourself outside your comfort zone and try something new.
- to explore job and volunteering opportunities.
- Consider applying for part-time jobs and opportunities in 黑料吃瓜网. It may be easier to find a part-time job earlier in the semester as jobs are filled very quickly around December and January.
- Apply for the 黑料吃瓜网 Research Internship Scheme to engage in paid academic research.
October to December
- Sign up for Coffee Connect to find a mentor.
- Apply to the Your Future, Start Now programme.
- Apply for an employer .
- Apply for a , which can lead to research and international internship opportunities in leadership (applications usually open in November).
January to June
- Apply to the work shadowing programme to gain a better understanding of a job, sector or potential employer.
- Apply for the St鈥疉ndrews Summer Internship Scheme.
- Apply for the 黑料吃瓜网 Research Internship Scheme to engage in paid academic research.
- Apply for (summer applications usually open in April).
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Your ‘penultimate’ year is the year before the final year of your degree. This is a vital time for career planning and gaining valuable work experience.
Attend careers fairs, employer events and presentations to network and find out what opportunities are available. Remember that the recruitment process starts early (especially for some sectors, including law, accountancy and banking) and competition for places can be high.
Below are suggested ways you could make the most of your penultimate year at 黑料吃瓜网.All year
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Builder Award, to develop new skills
- Volunteer to gain experience in a variety of fields.
- Regularly check each week for new opportunities.
- Attend events and sign up for one of the Careers Centre’s Career Journey Workshops on CVs, cover letters, application forms, interview skills and LinkedIn profiles.
- Consider applying for part-time jobs and opportunities in 黑料吃瓜网.
- Book appointments with a careers or CV adviser to talk about your future, go over your CV, cover letter or application form, and improve your interview skills.
- Make a profile on SaintConnect (a 黑料吃瓜网-specific social networking platform) to find opportunities and reach out to alumni.
September to December
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Spotlight Award, to talk about your existing skills.
- Research employers and explore career options.
- Apply for internships – many graduate recruiters have deadlines before the Christmas vacation.
- Apply for the 黑料吃瓜网 Research Internship Scheme to engage in paid academic research.
- Sign up for Coffee Connect to find a mentor.
- Attend careers fairs – the majority take place in October and November.
- Sign up for employer presentations, skills sessions and workshops. See the events page for upcoming sessions.
- Consider applying for an internship with a smaller employer through Saltire, or by applying speculatively
- Update your CV and LinkedIn profile – book an appointment with a CV Adviser to help you.
January to February
- Apply to the to gain a better understanding of a job, sector or potential employer.
- January is the key deadline for many law firms’ summer schemes.
- Apply for the 黑料吃瓜网 Research Internship Scheme to engage in paid academic research.
- Apply for the St鈥疉ndrews Summer Internship Scheme.
- Check to see if some formal internship programmes still have vacancies.
- Explore work experience with smaller employers, work shadowing and volunteering opportunities.
March to May
- Keep an eye out for summer internships with late application deadlines – some firms may have closing dates as late as March or April, depending on the company’s recruitment needs.
- Apply for (summer applications usually open in April).
June to August
- Remember that some graduate recruitment schemes open as early as August, such as in banking and finance.
- Apply for the 黑料吃瓜网 Research Internship Scheme to engage in paid academic research.
- Research roles and employers for graduate jobs and graduate schemes (refer to and ) according to your career plan and find out how and when to apply.
- Keep your LinkedIn and SaintConnect profiles and your CV up to date.
- Consider postgraduate or further study.
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You’re busy wrapping up your degree and perhaps preparing to say goodbye to 黑料吃瓜网. Where will your journey take you next?
Below are suggested ways you could make the most of your final year at 黑料吃瓜网.All year
- Make a profile on Saint Connect (a 黑料吃瓜网-specific social networking platform) to find opportunities and reach out to alumni.
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Builder Award, to develop new skills
- Volunteer to gain experience in a variety of fields.
- Regularly check each week for new opportunities.
- Attend events and sign up for one of the Careers Centre’s Career Journey Workshops on CVs, cover letters, application forms, interview skills and LinkedIn profiles.
- Consider applying for part-time jobs and opportunities in St Andrews.
- Book appointments with a careers or CV adviser to talk about your future, go over your CV, cover letter or application form, and improve your interview skills.
September to December
- Sign up for the Saints Skills Spotlight Award, to talk about your existing skills.
- Applications for many graduate training schemes open now. Deadlines for applying typically fall between October and January. For graduate jobs, positions remain open until filled.
- Consider applying for an internship with a smaller employer through Saltire, or by applying speculatively
- Book an appointment with a career adviser or a CV adviser to have your application, CV or cover letter checked.
- Attend careers fairs and employer presentations – talk to employers and make applications.
- If you intend to go on to further study, look into applying for postgraduate study and applying for scholarships.
January to February
- Apply to the work shadowing programme to gain a better understanding of a job, sector or potential employer.
- Applications for many graduate training schemes close.
- Prepare for the job application process, including:
- Book a practice interview appointment with the Careers Centre.
- If you are applying for postgraduate study:
- Get your personal statement checked by a careers adviser.
- Funding and scholarship deadlines for postgraduate courses beginning in September typically end between January and March.
- Apply for university accommodation after you accept an offer for a postgraduate course.
March to April
- Attend interviews and assessment centres.
May to July
- If successful, you will now be receiving job offers.
- Keep applying for graduate jobs – employers recruit on a rolling basis throughout the year.
August to September
- You could now begin a graduate scheme or job.
- Consider after graduation, such as taking a gap year, travelling or doing further study.
- Keep in touch with the Careers Centre. Don’t forget that its services are available to you for up to three years after you graduate: .