University 3rd/Final Year undergraduate & research postgraduate students

September - December

• Apply in September, if not already done so, for any US postgraduate studies.
  
  
• Use directories of employers & shortlist interesting companies.
  
  
• Check closing dates for applications to companies as early as possible.
  
  
• Attend careers service events & workshops.
  
  
• Practice skills in applications, interviews, presentations, aptitude tests & assessment centre tests, e.g. leadership & teamwork exercises. Advice from careers centres.
  
  
• Check vacancy lists from careers centre.
  
  
• Check CV & cover letters with careers advisor.
  
  
• Attend employer presentations.
  
  
• Attend Finance Milkround recruitment events at larger universities.
  
  
• Apply for short Xmas courses run by some companies.
  
  
• Apply to any  Gap Year opportunities for summer/autumn
  
  
• Take  GMAT early in Oct, Nov for US management courses.
  
  
• Apply to PGCE courses (online or paper).
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to Civil Service Fast Stream from 20th September - 3rd November 2004.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to Legal Practice Course for solicitors.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to Vocational course for barristers.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to Postgraduate social work courses.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to CPE/Diploma in Law conversion course.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to Clinical psychology courses.
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to   English Language Teaching or Language Assistant schemes. More information on becoming an EFL/ESOL teacher available from our section on teaching
  
  
• Applications as early as possible to large multi-nationals (many closing dates before Xmas).

January - March

• If still unsure of a career, visit a careers advisor
  
  
• Attend careers service talks & workshops.
  
  
• Attend any Milkround and  other recruitment and careers fairs.
  
  
• Practice skills in applications, interviews, presentations, aptitude tests & assessment centre tests, e.g. leadership & teamwork.
  
  
• Apply to postgraduate academic courses, check deadlines for Research Councils and other postgraduate funding.
  
  
• Apply to law conversion courses - February closing date.
  
  
• Check CVs & cover letters with careers advisor.
  
  
• Easter vacation - some employers run selection centres or extended second interviews.

April - June

• Apply for postgraduate posts, check funding application dates & procedures from Research Councils and other postgraduate funding organisations.
  
  
• Attend   summer recruitment & careers fairs and Milkround events.
  
  
• Research companies & sectors & make speculative applications to employers.
  
  
• Apply to jobs in local, national newspapers, Internet sites, register with job agencies.
  
  
• See a careers advisor to discuss career choice or jobsearch.
  
  
• Check vacancies at university careers centres.
  
  
• Let career advisors know where you will be after leaving.
  
  
• Tell careers service what you will be doing after you leave university if you know.

July - August

• Attend  summer recruitment & careers fairs and Milkround events.
  
  
• Contact  local graduate development schemes.
  
  
• Use "mutual aid" guidance schemes - providing careers advice for up to 3 years after graduation, if you have moved away from your own university or moved home, make appointments.
  
  
• Contact  Graduate Careerline for advice, national telephone advisory service for graduates within three years of graduation, staffed by experienced careers advisers. You pay for the call (standard national rates apply) but the advice is free. Tel: 0870 7702477 Type Talk: 18001 0870 770 2477 Tuesday - Thursday 3pm - 8pm.
  
  
• Careers advice service by email, for UK & other EU & EEA graduates for 5 years after graduating, free CV checking service, chat room & message board from  Prospects.
  
  
• Check your tax and insurance situation with a careers advisor, the Inland Revenue or contact your local Tax Office if not already done so.

Key Dates

• September: Civil Service Fast Stream from 20th September - 3rd November 2005
  
  
• October: Take GRE & GMAT tests for US universities.
  
  
• December: closing dates for Psychology - late November or early December 2004, Legal Practice Course - 1st December, PGCE - 15th December 2004 for primary, up to 30th June 2005 for secondary, Diploma in Social Work - 15th December 2004, continuing to mid-August 2005
  
  
• January - closing dates: Civil Service Fast Stream, Bar Vocational Course - late December or early January.
  
  
• Early February - closing dates: CPE/Diploma in Law (law conversion course) (2nd February 2004 - not available yet for 2005).

Thanks to Wayahead-Careers Connexions, Better Choices, City College Manchester, Manchester University & UMIST Careers Service, University of Kent, who contributed to the career calendars. Updated April/May 2004.