Career Planning Tips for Masters Students

When Should I Start My Career Planning?

If studying a full-time Masters programme of twelve months’ duration you should start exploring future options as soon as possible. Some opportunities may require you to make job applications shortly after beginning your course of study.

If your course is longer and includes a professional placement you may wish to focus your efforts on researching potential placement opportunities and updating your CV, prior to starting your course.

Here are four steps that can help you achieve your career goals:

Step One – Explore Career Options

Step Two – Identify Graduate Job Vacancies

Step Three – Make Effective Job Applications

Step Four – Job Selection Process

Step One – Explore Career Options

The first thing to consider is your broad career direction. Some courses may direct you to a specific career; others may be less vocational, and you will need to clarify what career option is right for you.

Try using the Sector Information on the Prospects website if you wish to explore a wide range of graduate professions.

The Prospects site includes two matching tools that can help you to establish what career might suit you.

Other useful sites that may help you to explore your career options:

Target Jobs Graduate Career Sectors

Bright Network’s Career Path Guides

All About Careers

_{Step Two – Identify Graduate Job Vacancies}

When are graduate vacancies advertised?

You may be surprised to know that many large recruiters will open their graduate vacancies for September 2025 entry by September 2024, some may advertise their opportunities even earlier. You will also find that a number of recruiters will have very early closing dates – many Investment Banks will have closing dates as early as October 2024 for their September 2025 vacancies. This is why it is important that you make an early start to your career planning.

Where are the vacancies for students studying a Masters degree?

Don’t limit your job search to vacancies that specify a Masters degree as an essential requirement.

Many UK recruiters will not differentiate between vacancies for those with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree – they will often simply offer a graduate scheme for which they require a minimum of a good first degree.

Will there be opportunities to engage with graduate recruiters when I begin my studies at Surrey?

We plan a programme of careers events involving high profile graduate recruiters.

Once you have joined the University and registered as a Surrey student you can check details of all the events we are running using your MySurrey Account.

Which websites should I use to search for graduate vacancies?

Here are some suggestions of websites that you may find useful:

All About Careers

The Job Crowd

Graduate Recruitment Bureau

Grad & Post Grad Jobs

graduatejobs.com

Grad Cracker (Science/Engineering vacancies)

These sites are likely to advertise both permanent graduate vacancies as well as placement opportunities with a wide range of high-profile graduate recruiters.

Once you begin your studies at Surrey make sure you access vacancies from employers targeting Surrey students through our career hub Surrey Pathfinder.

Step Three – Make Effective Job Applications

You may like to start drafting a CV that you can use when applying for graduate positions or placements.

The following resources may help you to draft a CV or cover letter that is appropriate for UK recruiters:

Prospects – CVs and Cover Letters

TARGET jobs - Application and CV Advice
Many recruiters will ask candidates to complete an online application form.
The following article may be helpful:

Prospects – Write a successful job application

Information Resources Provided by Surrey’s Employability and Careers Team

You can access our series of careers information and resources here

You will find a leaflet covering Writing Effective CVs and Covering Letters, Numerous Example CVs and a leaflet that explains how to complete Application Forms.

Step Four – Job Selection Process

The job selection process starts with a strong application, as mentioned above. If your application is successful, there will follow a number of different steps that employers will use to shortlist candidates including:

Psychometric Tests

These are used by recruiters to check competencies including verbal and numerical reasoning.

Interviews

Many recruiters are offering interviews ‘live’ using MS Teams, Zoom or similar platforms. Some employers may offer a telephone interview, others may use an automated, recorded video interview system in the first instance. Many employers are now moving back to ‘in-person’ interviews.

Skills Events for Students

Once your course starts, we run regular skills events led by a range of graduate recruiters and our careers staff who can give you further help and advice.

Assessment Centres

Often used by larger recruiters as the final stage of the job selection process. You will undertake a number of exercises that can allow you to demonstrate the capabilities employers are seeking such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving skills etc.

If you wish to find out more before you start your studies at Surrey, you can access more information on these aspects of the job selection process:

Prospects Interview Tips

Target Jobs Careers Advice

We provide help and advice on all aspects of the job selection process through our series of bespoke information leaflets. In addition, you will be able to make use of a range of resources including Interview 360 (an online interview simulator), practice psychometric tests and much more.

Enhancing Your Employability

What do employers look for when selecting applicants?

It won’t surprise you to hear that many employers look for a strong academic performance when selecting candidates, but it’s important for you to realise that good grades alone will not be enough to get you your dream job.

What else do employers look for?

Relevant work experience, or an internship or placement, whilst not essential these can significantly increase your chances of success.

There are an increasing number of internships (online or in person) that are worth looking out for.

A lot of recruiters will identify particular competencies/skills that they see as essential for success. These can include communication skills, teamwork, organisation, time management, IT skills and leadership capability to name but a few.

In order to demonstrate evidence of the competencies they seek you need to have been actively involved in activities outside of your studies.

Here are some activities that could help you to develop the skills recruiters seek

Part-Time / Summer Employment	Could develop customer service skills, time management, fitting work around studies etc.
Student Clubs and Societies	Can often demonstrate teamwork with fellow students and may enhance organisational skills if you are responsible for arranging a meeting or event.
Volunteering	This gives great scope to demonstrate teamwork, leadership and more besides. Volunteering also shows a commitment to ‘giving back’ to other people; something recruiters often value. The Students’ Union runs a huge range of societies and a comprehensive student volunteering programme.

Before you start making job applications think about any activities you have been involved in over the last two years or so. You may be able to think about the relevant competencies you have developed and include details in your CV.

When you start at Surrey you can choose to get involved in any of the above activities – we can help you find a part-time job to fit around your studies.

We also recommend students consider joining our Surrey Professional Skills Award www.surrey.ac.uk/skillsaward

Finally

Don’t forget we are always happy to help you with every aspect of your career planning and development, wherever you are in your journey. If you are unclear about where to start or what to focus on first, just make an appointment with a Careers Consultant via Surrey Pathfinder and we can help you develop a plan for moving forward.

Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion careers resources to find out more about diversity initiatives, employer perspectives and support at Surrey.

If you would like more information, visit MySurrey Help to find answers to the most common questions and details on how to ask us a question if you require more support.