5 Minute Fix Find a job for this summer University of Manchester Careers Blog

5 Minute Fix Find a job for this summer University of Manchester Careers Blog Easter bunnys here to help So, you havent got a job lined up yet whether just for summer or for after you graduate. Is it too late to do something before your exams? No! One quick fix, right now, before the Easter break, might unlock your ideal job. How? Tell everyone you know what youd love to do over summer, or after you graduate. Post on any social media you use Sure, you can WhatsApp your friends, but dont forget Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well. Thats what the old people still use and theyre the ones with jobs to fill, and who know other old people who might be able to help you! Phone home If you still live at home (inside or outside term-time), or have family friends or relatives who have a vested interest in seeing you fixed up, let everyone know what youre after, particularly if youre going home for the holidays. Your home-based supporters club can have their ear to the ground for any good opportunities or contacts. Right, now the scary bit. What if this generates a possible contact or the name of a potential employer? Write to them, now! Offer your services for any project or temporary work over the summer, highlighting the skills, experience and enthusiasm you can bring, and include a tailored CV. Hint: being able to pick things up quickly, use your initiative and work with limited supervision are sought after attributes for any short term work. Asking for experience or training or an internship isnt as attractive to an employer. If youre looking for a graduate job, you can ask for a job for after you graduate but starting out doing project or temporary work can also be a way into a longer term job. Dont assume that project or temporary work is unpaid. Other temp workers are paid as long as youre doing real work which is needed by the employer, you should assume you get paid! (See our advice on unpaid experience.) Why now, before Easter? Because as long as theyre within travelling distance of where youll be over the Easter break, you can suggest that you will be available between 21st March and 8th April if there is any chance of speaking to you directly about any opportunities you may have. Theyll probably want to speak to you before offering you a job, so use the Easter break to get ahead of the crowd. Who knows? Theres just the chance that you might bag an interview or two and even a job before you come back to Manchester and head towards exams. What if you dont have their email address? Try snail mail youve just about got time to get it to them before the Easter break! In fact, most employers get so many emails, a good hard copy letter and CV can actually stand out. Still no names to contact? Try the Organisation Directory in CareersLink and search: over 10,000 organisations all over the UK (and some overseas) large and small the smaller ones are where there will be less competition in all sorts of work (thats the Organisation Sector filter in the Advanced Search see below) all of whom want to target University of Manchester students. All Internships Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted five minute fixes job hunting networking summer internships work experience