I am currently in the final year of my undergraduate degree, so my thinking has inevitably turned to what career path I might take post-graduation. It’s an intimidating prospect to say the least, but thankfully, Queen’s has a brilliant Careers Service to help me make those choices!

I will definitely be checking their services out this year and you should too, so I’ve compiled a guide to all of the different ways they can support you both before and during the transition into the working world.

Events

Every year, the Careers Service runs several on-campus and virtual events for students. The most well-known and publicised are the various graduate fairs, which are fantastic. They are a chance for all students, but particularly final years, to scope out potential employers and strike up conversations with company representatives from a wide range of sectors. 

^{Network at graduate careers fairs}

However, there are also a lot of smaller-scale events related to personal development, meeting potential employers and career insights. I would advise regularly checking the website and following QUB Careers on social media, to make sure you don’t miss any important events! 

A few events in the upcoming 23/24 academic year to put in your diary:

• Self Discovery Week 
• Future Graduates Week 
• Careers Without Limits Week 

You can find the whole list of events here. 

1-2-1 Appointments

One of the best things you can do as a final-year student is book an appointment with a Careers Advisor, to get some advice tailored specifically to you. It is easy to book online through MyFuture and the appointments themselves are held in the Students’ Union, or virtually for ease.

There are different advisors for each school who can check your CV, help you narrow down your career options, offer advice about how to improve your employability and more. You can have up to 5 appointments per academic year. You can also request a mock job interview with someone, which would be invaluable if you wanted a trial run before applying for your dream role.

^{Get tailored advice from a Careers Advisor}

Non-linear careers support

The Careers Service recognises that many students want to expand their career horizons beyond jobs directly related to their field, so cater for those interested in flexible and non-linear careers. As someone who will be graduating from a degree that doesn’t lead directly into any particular career (French and Spanish) and is unsure what they want to do after university, I will undoubtedly be having a look at these resources during the year, as well as booking the previously mentioned careers consultation! 

^{You are not limited to working in jobs directly related to your degree}

Future-Ready Award

Something all final year students should look into is the Future-Ready Award. It is run by the Careers Service and is an accreditation you can get on top of your degree through time spent on extracurricular activities such as volunteering, personal development, or work placements. It is a valuable addition to your CV that showcases your skills to employers. You can find the full list of eligible activities and how to apply here.

MyFuture

MyFuture is a site that all Queen’s students can use. You can get an automatic CV check, download career resources, get personalised job recommendations and more. They even use AI to curate lists of trending jobs internationally!

If you keep an eye on MyFuture throughout your final year, you can see the types of jobs that are out there, get in touch with employers and make plans for applying to positions when you graduate.

^{Receive personalised job recommendations}

Go Global

A lot of graduates will end up seeking jobs outside of Northern Ireland. Queen’s Careers have lots of support available to help you find work both on the mainland and further afield. 

You can take part in study and work placements abroad during your time at university which will enrich your CV and employability as a graduate. Students from all disciplines can benefit from these experiences, from spending a year in the USA to a semester in a European or Australian university.

Queen’s Career Services also put a lot of focus on building your career internationally with alumni events and employer panels.

^{Interested in studying or working abroad? Go Global!}

Make sure to check out the Global Opportunities Website to learn all about these opportunities.

Make sure to keep up with the Careers Service throughout your final year to become aware of all your options and to make the transition to working or further study as smooth as possible!

Find out more

Careers, Employability And Skills

Study or work abroad

MyFuture at Queen's

More blogs about Careers & Global Opportunities

Study Languages at Queen's

Zoë Totten French and Spanish | Undergraduate Student | NI I'm a final year French and Spanish student from Northern Ireland who has recently returned from my Year Abroad. In my time at Queen's I have been involved in QUB Sign, the French society, the Spanish and Portuguese society and the Students Against Human Trafficking Society. When I'm not in class you will find me crocheting, going to concerts or getting coffee with friends!