COVID Career Support Hub

We know that many of you are anxious about how the 2020 coronavirus pandemic will affect your career prospects and options.

We want to reassure you that there is still much that can be done, and to look forward to, and there is lots of support available to help you navigate this new and unexpected situation.

Part of that support is this online ‘hub’ that brings together the best careers resources and information into one place. We hope it encourages you to take steps to meet the challenges caused by the pandemic, both now and in a post-COVID world of work, and that it helps you to feel positive that they can be overcome.

This ‘hub’ is a new venture for us, please keep checking back as this new resource continues to be developed. Also, all feedback or ideas for improvement are welcome (just email careers@aber.ac.uk).

We're Online

The Careers Service is still very much here to help you. There’s been little disruption to our services as everything was either already online, or we’ve quickly moved it there!

Whether you’re a current student, or one of our graduates, please get in touch with any careers-related query you may have – and remember that we offer a lifelong service, it doesn’t matter when you graduated or how many times you’ve contacted us in the past.

If you want to…

Book a 1:1 appointment with a Careers Consultant
Ask a quick query via virtual drop-in
Search for vacancies, placement and other work experience opportunities
Get help with developing your career ideas and plans
Request feedback on your draft CV, application or personal statement
Explore our webinar series on a variety of careers related topics
View a schedule of online employer events – run by managers and graduate recruiters
Find out how to approach an employer ‘on spec’
Discuss postgraduate study options
Practice your interview skills

…and much more – here’s how:

ABERcareers Our online portal where you can book appointments, send queries, view jobs and find event information

Email careers@aber.ac.uk

Phone 01970 622378

Social media @abercareers

Jobs and Work Experience

Recruitment has not stopped, and businesses will need the skills and talents of graduates more than ever. Also, as the world adjusts to a ‘new normal’, more and more organisations are developing roles and projects suitable for remote working.

Use these resources to search for opportunities, connect with employers and broaden the scope of your career ideas and plans.

Job vacancies (including home-working opportunities)

ABERcareers

TARGETjobs

Graduate Recruitment Bureau

Gradcracker (STEM)

Institute of Student Employers (ISE)

Social media accounts of organisations of interest

Placements, projects, internships and virtual experiences

Tips for placement search from Jakub Klepek, Year in Employment Scheme 2019-20

Internship Experience UK

Gradcracker (STEM)

ProjectSet

Social media accounts of organisations of interest

GenerationHelp (STEM opportunities)

Army Reserves / Wales Universities Officers' Training Corps

Building Employability

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, you may have been planning work experience, for example, for your Year in Industry. Perhaps you had sorted a placement, which is now uncertain. Or you might have been a final year with a job offer that has since fallen through.

Our advice is please don’t feel too disheartened. Yes, work experience is the main way to develop evidence of the skills employers want, and to become ‘work-ready’. But it is not the only way, and there is still much you can do from home.

Employers will be keen to hear your story of how you approached this unique situation, of what you did to fill your time productively and to continue your personal and professional development. So use these resources to build and evidence your skills and learning, including resilience, change management and coping strategies, that will be key to success in a post-COVID world.

But don’t put too much pressure on yourself, there’s lots of information, so take it step by step – and please get in touch if we can help formulate a plan.

Careers and Skills Webinars

How to sell yourself to a graduate employer (MS Stream)

How to recognise your skills (MS Stream)

How to articulate your skills at interview (MS Stream)

How to articulate your skills at an assessment centre Part 1 and Part 2 (MS Stream)

Is it too late to do a Masters? (MS Stream)

Polishing your CV (MS Stream)

Sourcing Graduate Opportunities (MS Stream)

Weighing up your options (MS Stream)

Get a mentor and get ahead (MS Stream)

Online skills workshops and activities

Future Learn (international graduates)

Tips, blogs and advice: everything from excelling in video interviews to maintaining motivation

Careers Service – being work ready

Careers Service – finding work

Rate My Placement

NextStepSupport

Graduate Recruitment Bureau

MyPLUS Students' Club - hear from disability-confident professionals

Army Reserves / Wales Universities Officers' Training Corps - develop leadership skills and confidence

Prospects – Your Career & COVID

Rate My Placement – lockdown activities

NextStepSupport - the online application process and what employers look for

NextStepSupport - preparing for virtual assessment centres

Handshake

Gradcracker

CareerFairPlus – online meetings

TARGETjobs

BBC News – Class of 2008

GoinGlobal

Follow us on social media if you have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account (@abercareers), especially our “ABERcareers presents…” series of bitesize tips and information