COVID-19 is having a profound impact on university students in all year groups, but students who are graduating during the pandemic are especially anxious about what the future holds.
Alongside the pressure of studying for final year assignments, students are wondering how the COVID-19 outbreak will impact their job prospects. Career fairs and other events that would usually give students the opportunity to network with potential employers have been cancelled and a lot of students are unsure where to turn.
Don't worry, if you've found yourself in this situation, you're not alone. There are thousands of people who will be graduating in 2021 who feel the same way as you.
If you're wondering how you can make yourself more employable or how to look for graduate opportunities to apply for, we've got you covered.
Making yourself more employable during lockdown
To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, certain places throughout the UK have been placed under strict lockdown restrictions. While these restrictions are in place to keep people safe, they can be quite inconvenient if you're a final year student looking to enhance their CV with some relevant work experience.
It's likely that competition for graduate jobs will be fierce, especially with fewer companies being able to offer them, so it's important you do whatever you can to make your application stand out from the rest. Here are a few things you can do to make yourself more employable during lockdown.
1. Take extra online courses
There are so many resources online that you can take advantage of if you're stuck inside for a few weeks. You could take a course that complements your degree, learn a new language or even learn a new skill without having to set foot outside your house.
All of these things will look great on your CV and will show that you've been proactive during lockdown.
2. Volunteer and help the local community
If you're not currently self-isolating, there are COVID-19 volunteer roles that you could apply for to fill your spare time. These kinds of activities can help to fill gaps on your CV and they'll make you feel good too! Click here to find volunteer opportunities near you.
3. Perfect your CV
In between your university assignments, we'd recommend spending some time perfecting your CV. We have a lot of great CV writing advice that you can look at for inspiration.
Coming out of lockdown with a CV that looks great, reads well and says a lot about your aspirations will help you secure those more competitive roles.
4. Improve your social media presence
This one might sound trivial, but lots of employers seek out potential employees using platforms like LinkedIn. If you haven't already, take some time to improve your profile, update your information and make your career aspirations known. You never know, your dream graduate job might come to you!
Advice for finding work during the pandemic
Graduates can have a hard time finding work at the best of times, never mind during a global pandemic. But don't worry, there are lots of things you can do to find your dream job!
First of all, we'd recommend staying in close contact with your university and the career advisors there. Their main concern is making sure that students like you have the support you need to find a job after uni.
The job hunt shouldn't stop there though. Taking a proactive approach and looking for jobs early can help you secure something ahead of time so you won't have the stress of wondering "what am I going to do after uni?" looming over you throughout your final year.
Recruitment companies work tirelessly to pair the right people with the right jobs. Here at HRS, we work with STEM companies across the country and help them find candidates like you who are eager to learn and contribute to life-changing science and technology industries.
Browse All Science Jobs > Browse Graduate Opportunities >
If you have any questions about our job opportunities, or if you'd like to work with one of our HRS recruiters to find a life-changing job after university - get in touch!
