Careers, Employability and Skills
Planning Your Career
“I would...recommend getting involved in as many different things as possible, get out of your comfort zone - not only will this help your CV, but you will meet lots of new and interesting people!!” (Joe McMullan, BSc Hons Accounting 2010)
This section will help you plan your route from study to graduate employment. You might not have any idea of what you want to do after your degree but don’t worry: the important thing is to be flexible and keep yourself open to different options, as well as thinking and planning well in advance – even as early as your first year. This might sound strange but there are lots of things you can do, both on-campus and off, before your final year to develop relevant skills and insights to work to improve your chances later on.
Follow the links below to start exploring your options:
- What are my career options?
- What if I’m not sure what to do next?
- What can I do to improve my chances of success?
For more detailed information on the main options for graduates go to:
- Graduate employment - develop your job search strategy and find out where to look for vacancy information in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland or further afield
- Graduate training - get work experience and vocational education to improve your chance of a graduate level job in a range of sectors
- Taking time out - options if considering time out after your studies
- Start your own business - ideas and help available for budding entrepreneurs
- Further study - postgraduate and other study options including
What if I have specific needs in planning my career?
- International students
- Students with disabilities
- Mature students - Queen's Widening Participation Unit
-
Students from other groups currently under-represented in HE in Northern Ireland
What if I’m not sure what to do next?
Don’t worry you aren’t alone! The key thing is to take the time to research what’s out there and think about what’s for you.
6 things you can do to get started:
1. Do the research - check out useful websites such as:
- Queen’s Careers, Employability and Skills
- Graduate Prospects
- ‘Job Sectors’ (includes links to ‘options with your subject’ and ‘types of jobs’)
- What jobs would suit me?’
- ‘What do graduates do?
- Gradireland
Also, call into the Student Guidance Centre to use our extensive careers library 
View our media clips:
- "How to find employment opportunities" ,
- "The graduate jobmarket and the nature of graduate recruitment"
- What Can I do With My Non-Vocational Degree by Greta O'Donnell
2. Make the most of your time at University - Queen’s is a top-rated university and there are all kinds of opportunities to explore, such as our career development programmes and work-related learning opportunities, to develop your confidence, skills and insights
3. Do something different - study in Europe or further afield like the USA, get work experience, do voluntary work, go on a study visit to London, join a student club or society – the choice is yours!
4. Register for Degree Plus and get accreditation for your non-academic extra-curricular activities
5. Investigate graduate employment, training and further study options eg at our careers fairs, employer events and by checking out our online vacancy and events service.
6. Get expert one-to-one guidance and support when you need it – talk to your Careers Adviser