Career planning

No idea what you want to do next? Don’t panic, it’s totally normal to be unsure – and we’re here to help you plan.

Remember - everything you get involved in at Leeds can link to your future; part-time work, involvement in societies and volunteering all appeal to employers and develop your skills.  

Where should I start?  

It can feel overwhelming to start planning your future – but there’s loads of ways to get started. Even if it doesn’t feel like much, small steps are helpful and can point you in the right direction. 

  • Explore our degree-related information to find some ideas related to your course. You could also head to the Prospects website for more information on what you can do with your degree.

  • Sign-up to careers fairs, workshops, webinars or presentations on MyCareer. 

  • Consider our accredited careers modules which will help you to develop and plan for your future alongside your studies. Our modules are open to all undergraduate students and are a great opportunity to: develop a picture of your career motivations and professional identity, understand entrepreneurship, take a work placement year and find out more about the job market from recruiters and qualified career consultants.

  • Take the career planner quiz on the homepage of the Prospects website.

  • Be aware that some career paths require early planning, check out this recruitment timeline for an overview of typical timescales for graduate recruitment. There’s also this list of key graduate scheme deadlines.

  • Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for updates on opportunities, workshops, events on campus and more. 

  • Still stuck? If you want an initial chat to figure out what your skills could lead to, you can always book an appointment with the Careers team. 

I’m looking for work experience, a year in industry or study abroad 

We have a range of work experience opportunities exclusive for Leeds students via our vacancy database on MyCareer. 

Make sure you submit a strong application and remember we’re happy to check over any job application and talk you through it.  

If you want to do a year in industry as part of your course, we can help you to consider all your options. Even if your department doesn’t offer a year in industry, you may still be able to take a placement year through our work placement module CSER 8000. 

You may also be interested in spending your year working or studying abroad, check out your options for funding to support this through the Turing Scheme.