Careers Undergraduate Advice Getting The Most Out Of Your Careers Office

In fact, this visit should really take place in your first or second year, so you get to know your way around and acquaint yourself with the services on offer.

The career office's main purpose is to help students become more employable by giving them the key skills and resources necessary for success. However buoyant the graduate job market is, employers want people who understand their organisation, know what's expected of them and are prepared for training.

Offices vary in the resources they offer, but they're all staffed by professional careers advisors with extensive knowledge of graduate employment and the best ways of finding and getting that job.

The advisors can help you decide which jobs are right for you and tell you about suitable employers. Many universities have links with particular companies because the university is highly esteemed or has particular success in certain subjects. Or the link could be a local arrangement, where companies in the area snap up the best graduates before anyone else does.

Events and activities will be organised to help you with your decisions - 'Kick Start your Career' or 'Organising your Job Search', for example. The advisors will also help you apply for jobs effectively and provide support during the selection process.

Careers offices are now increasingly able to help you find work placements or experience during the summer too.

You're likely to find an alarming number of books and other resources in the office; employer files, careers literature, training videos and the computer careers guidance system 'Prospects Planner' are just a few of these. The advisors should also know of good internet sites (most offices provide internet access), recruitment fairs taking place, industry magazines and recruitment agencies. These can all be useful elements in your job search, so ask about them.

If you're having trouble deciding which career to opt for, it's a good idea to look at 'first destination' information. This provides details of where graduates from your course are now working and is a useful way to find out about options available to you.

Whether your careers service becomes a reference resource, a training centre or a counselling service to you, make use of it before you graduate. You're unlikely to get the same support or have access to such a wealth of information afterwards.