Careers Service

Future Fortnight 2020

Future Fortnight is a programme of online careers support running from 19-30 October 2020. Open to all students and recent graduates from The University of Manchester, it will be particularly useful for anyone looking for placement opportunities or graduate roles.

Week One (19-23 October) focuses on exploration – considering your skills and interests, thinking about how they match to different sectors, and then researching different roles within those industries.

For Week Two (26–30 October) we’ll concentrate on taking action – building your network, finding opportunities and perfecting your application and interview technique.

Week One

Monday 19 October 2020

• The Virtual Finance, Business and Management Fair (11am-5pm):
  Our virtual fair brings together 50 leading recruiters who will be promoting their graduate vacancies and placements for 2021, across a range of sectors from business, finance and management, to HR, consultancy and marketing. This massive event is not to be missed!
• How to identify your strengths (online recording):
  Developing self-awareness of your skills and strengths is a critical first step in finding your dream job. Watch our workshop recording on to out more about what you enjoy and what you’re good at, and how you can apply this to your job search.

Tuesday 20 October

• The Virtual STEM Careers Fair (11am-5pm):
  Thinking about a career in science, technology, engineering or maths? Join our massive online fair to meet with up to 50 recruiters with grad jobs and placement opportunities across these industry for 2021.
• Prospects Career Planner questionnaire (online resource):
  Did you know that your skills and interests can be transferred to lots of roles and industries? Take this online quiz to find match your skillset to a whole range of different sectors, some of which you may not have even realised existed!

Wednesday 21 October

• Meet the Professionals: Graduate Schemes (5.30-7pm):
  This online panel event is a great opportunity to network with recent graduates who have gone on to work in graduate schemes after university. You’ll get the chance to ask them how they prepared for the application and assessment centre process, what their tips for success are, and hear what it’s like to work on a graduate scheme.
• Join Meet the Professionals: Alumni with placement year experience (12-1pm):
  This virtual panel will give you the chance to connect with students and graduates who did a placement year as part of their degree. You’ll be able to ask them questions, hear about their experiences, and find out what steps they took to land their placements.

Thursday 22 October

• The Virtual Law Fair (11am-5pm):
  Our virtual fair will feature around 40 exhibitors, including solicitors, course providers and representation from professional legal bodies – ideal for both law and non-law students and graduates with an interest in the legal sector!
• Meet the Employers: Placements (12-1pm):
  This online panel will allow anyone considering a placement year to meet a panel of employers offering placement opportunities. Join the webinar to help you discover the benefits of a placement year and the impact that students can have on businesses.

Friday 23 October

• Get Linked In: Connect with Confidence (10-10.30am):
  In this short session, we’ll show you how to use LinkedIn to connect with people and extend your network, and how you can use LinkedIn to explore the careers of Manchester graduates.
• Meet the Employers: Graduate Schemes (12.30-2pm):
  Thinking of applying for graduate schemes? Tune in to network with a panel of graduate employers from a range of public and private sectors. You’ll have the opportunity to find out more about their graduate schemes, what they’re looking for in new graduate hires and ask questions.

Week Two

Monday 26 October

• Find Graduate Jobs (online resource):
  Looking for a graduate job? Whether you’re in your final year or are a recent graduate, we’ve got all the resources you need to help kick start your job search, including 200+ targeted searches for a whole range of grad jobs.
• Find a Placement (online resource):
  Thinking about going on placement next year? Check out our online resources for more information on where and when to look, and ongoing support available to you, to help you land your dream role.

Tuesday 27 October

• How to Navigate the Hidden Job Market (1-2pm):
  Find out how you can unlock the hidden jobs market, make new contacts, access insider industry knowledge and secure a role in your chosen area.
• Job search guide (online resource):
  Are you finding it hard to find placement opportunities and graduate jobs in the industry or sector you’re interested in? Not all opportunities are advertised! Check out our handy guide to find out more.

Wednesday 28 October

• Interviews: Preparation and Technique (12-1pm):
  Worried about interviews? Join us to find how you can more effectively prepare and get tips on how to impress the panel. You’ll also gain a better understanding of the support and resources available to you from the Careers Service to help you ace your next interview.
• Psychometric Tests - All Your Questions Answered (2-3pm):
  Put off taking psychometric tests, not had much success to date, or just want to find out more about how to perform better at tests? Join us for a live Q&A session where we will be answering some of the most common questions about tests and giving you the opportunity to ask yours. Guest employers will also be joining the session online to share their own insights and answer your questions.
• Interview practice and preparation (online resource):
  Remember, you can access practice video interviews, get tips for an upcoming telephone interview, or book a one-to-one interview practice session with a Careers Consultant.

Thursday 29 October

• Preparing for Online Assessment Centres (12-1pm):
  Assessment centres are often a key ingredient of a graduate job or placement selection process. Join our webinar to find out what to expect from online assessment centres, how to prepare, and what support is available for you.
• Preparing for Situational Judgement Tests (1-2pm):
  Many graduate and placement employers use situational judgement tests as part of the selection process. During this webinar you’ll find out more about this increasingly popular kind of test, and can even have a go at some sample questions.

Friday 30 October

• Application support (online resource):
  Over the past few days we covered interviews, assessment centres, situational judgement tests and where to look for opportunities. Today we finish off Future Fortnight with all things applications! No matter if it’s CVs, Cover Letters or application forms, we have you covered. Check out our website for helpful resources, advice and free templates.
• Get application feedback (online resource):
  Want some advice on your application before you submit it to the employer? We offer CV, application and LinkedIn advice appointments!