Vacancies & Information for Final Year Students
Many employers offer graduate recruitment schemes aimed at students in their final year of study. You need to apply early! Most schemes have application closing dates many months before graduation.
Below are the key formal areas for finding graduate jobs, but don't forget all the informal ways such as networking events, asking friends and family or job shadowing.
Careers & Employability Vacancy Database
Look at the latest graduate recruitment schemes for final year students and other vacancies. If you have already graduated visit out webpage for graduates who are seeking immediate graduate job vacancies.
Graduate Career Directories
There are 2 main directories available free from Careers and Employability. The Prospects Directory and the GET Directory list employers who regularly recruit graduates. There are also details of the types of vacancies on offer, and key contacts to help you look for more background information. Keep up-to-date with new employer information by registering free with both sites to receive e-mail updates.
Fairs and Events
Events aimed specially at Final Year students take place all over the UK. Careers fairs are a great chance to meet with and impress potential employers, and specific employer presentations let you find out what graduate training and vacancies are on offer from different companies. Details of events appear on our news webpage. You can also keep up-to-date by visiting the University of Manchester Careers and Employability website, and the events pages on the Prospects website.
Careers Websites
The Prospects website is a huge information resource for Final Year students. There are specialised sections on lots of different career areas, and links to advertisements for Graduate Recruitment Schemes. You can register free to receive e-mail updates and can also sign up to the online-only digital careers magazine Prospects Graduate. A range of Prospects publications is available free from Careers and Employability; the most useful one for Final Year students is 'Prospects Finalist', which comes out 5 times a year.
This is an informal and informative web resource, featuring a range of employment sectors, including Construction and Property, Engineering and Science, Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism, and IT and Telecoms. You can register for free e-mail updates. Collect free TARGETjobs publications from Careers and Employability, including the popular DoctorJob magazine.
Comprehensive information service covering various graduate career areas. It's free to register online. Their invaluable careers handbooks are available free from Careers and Employability
The Guardian's free careers supplement appears on Saturdays during the academic year, with features on graduate recruitment, and employer advertisements. The online version offers a range of features, including free registration to search their graduate jobs database.
Don't Forget to Visit Us
Browse the Employer Information Section in the Careers Information Room to find information on regional and national employers.
As well as detailed employer files to look at whilst you are in Careers and Employability, you can pick up a range of free publications to take away to read at your leisure.
And if you can't find what you want, there is always a member of the Information Team on hand to help you - ask us for any information you need and we will do our best to track it down for you.
Create your CV / Get your CV checked
You may need to submit a CV to an employer to apply for a placement opportunity. A CV is a document which summarises your qualifications and experience to date. Use our "Creating a CV" handout to help you create your own CV. If you feel you need to speak to a Careers Consultant on a one-to-one basis about your CV or applications that you are making, you can book a 20 minute appointment up to one week in advance where you can use the time to get some immediate feedback on your CV or the content of your applications.
Completing Application Forms
You may need to complete an application form to apply for a placement opportunity. Use our “Application Forms” handout to help you. Make a copy of the placement application form and try completing it. If you feel you need to speak to a Careers Consultant on a one-to-one basis about your applications that you are making, you can book a 20 minute appointment up to one week in advance where you can use the time to get some immediate feedback on the content of your applications.
Interviews
Use our "Interviews" handout to help you prepare yourself for interviews. If a Careers Consultant feels that you would benefit from a further appointment after the initial 20 minute inteview they will arrange a further longer appointment with you, which will allow a fuller discussion regarding your career options. A Careers Consultant will listen to your ideas, help you identify your strengths, weaknesses and skills and assist you in relating all of these things to the world of work. Careers and Employability also offers a mock interview service so you can practise- ring Careers and Employability for details.
Appointments
Appointments are available for current students/graduates of the University of Salford. To make an appointment, either call into Careers and Employability in person or ring 0161 295 5088.
If you find it difficult to make it to the Careers Office, you can e-mail your careers questions to our team of advisers.
Further Help: Electronic Books
An electronic or e-book is essentially a book made available via a computer screen. There is now a range of e-books available that will help you with your job-hunting, applications and interviews that you can read on screen. Selected titles have been evaluated by Careers Consultants from Careers and Employability at the University of Salford to ensure that the material is relevant to your needs.