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Plan your personal development
You may or may not know what career you want after university but any experience you gain now will strengthen future job applications. Make a plan to decide how you can gain experience over the year. Start by identifying where you are now; complete a SWOT analysis, note your: Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats Consider how you can utilise the opportunities to address your weaknesses and create a termly action plan for your academic and personal development - this timeline will help. -
Become a course representative
Most LSE courses have a course representative from the student body who will represent their peers at formal meetings with tutors and other staff members at LSE. Become a course rep and you'll gain valuable experience of liaising with senior members of LSE and articulating students' views, all important employability skills. Ask in your department for information about how you can get involved. -
Join a club or society
Being part of an LSE club or society is a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests and to gain important employability skills. Employers regularly inform LSE Careers that they look for and greatly value students who have gained skills from outside education and work. Visit the LSE Students' Union website for information about LSE clubs and societies. -
Apply for a part time job
Many LSE students help fund their studies through part time work. This might be in a local shop, pub or restaurant, an office or related to the sector they want to work in after graduation. Any part time job will equip you with employability skills, useful to draw upon when applying for graduate roles. Part time vacancies are on Career Hub. LSE recommends students work a maximum of 15 hours during term time. International students are advised to speak to ISIS if they have visa queries. -
Volunteer
Volunteering is recognised by 94% of employers as equipping students with relevant employability skills. It also allows you to do something worthwhile for those less fortunate, give back to the community and meet new people. The Volunteer Centre at LSE is active in sourcing voluntary opportunities for LSE students. More information at LSE Volunteer Centre. -
Attend LSE Careers seminars
Careers seminars are run throughout the academic year by LSE Careers and cover topics such as how to write an effective application form, CV workshops, interview preparation and sector specific presentations. They're a great way to gain relevant knowledge and can be helpful if you're applying for part time, summer or voluntary opportunities. Visit Career Hub for dates, seminar descriptions and how to book. -
Attend LSE's public events
LSE has a varied schedule of public lectures and events throughout the academic year. LSE students should attend to improve their general knowledge, commercial awareness and to hear from inspirational and influential people. More information can be found at Public events. -
Insight programmes
Finding out about a sector and company early on will help you decide which sector is for you. Many companies run 'Spring Week Insight Programmes' for first year students to introduce them to their company and sector through lectures, workshops and networking (a great way to make contacts in the industry). In some cases companies use insight days as a first step towards their internship programme. Check company websites for insight day dates (normally March) and deadlines (normally Nov/Dec). -
Organise a departmental social event
Organisational skills are highly valued by the majority of employers. Organising a social or academic event for your department is a practical way of gaining this skill, in order to demonstrate this competency to potential employers. Other competencies will be used whilst arranging the event, including liaising with your peers, decision making and communication skills. Plus, you'll have the chance to socialise with people in your class! -
Assess your development
Use your SWOT analysis and personal development plan from the start of term to assess if you have reached your goals for this term. Have you attended lectures, joined a club or society, volunteered, etc? If you met your targets, well done! Add your experiences to your CV. Now check your plan for next term, and see what you need to do to meet the new targets. If you didn’t meet your targets, adjust your plan for next term and decide how you'll meet your adjusted targets. -
Apply to be an LSE mentor
Remember when you started LSE and you were nervous, unsure about what to expect and knew no one? LSE runs a mentor scheme whereby existing LSE students can mentor a new student, helping them integrate into LSE life. You'll use skills relevant in employment including communication and interpersonal skills. Employers look for people who give back to their community andthey will value the skills you’ll gain. Apply in January/February. More information at Student mentoring scheme. -
Have a careers discussion
You can, of course, visit LSE Careers at any point duing your time at LSE, but coming in the first year is not too early - it's never too early to think about your career! A careers discussion is an opportunity for you to discuss anything you like about your career, whether you have no idea or know your path exactly! To make a 15 minute careers discussion appointment with a careers consultant log into Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you would like an appointment. -
Assess your development
Use your SWOT analysis and personal development plan from the start of term to assess if you have reached your goals for this term. Have you attended lectures, joined a club or society, volunteered, etc? If you met your targets, well done! Add your experiences to your CV. Now check your plan for next term, and see what you need to do to meet those targets. If you didn’t meet your targets, adjust your plan for next term and decide how you'll meet the new targets. -
Attend careers seminars
The summer careers seminar programme run by LSE Careers begins at the start of July, and covers topics such as how to write an effective application form, CV workshops, interview preparation and sector specific presentations. They're a great way to gain relevant knowledge and can be helpful when applying for part time, summer or voluntary opportunities. Visit Career Hub for dates, seminar descriptions and how to book. -
Assess your development
Use your SWOT analysis and personal development plan from the start of term to assess if you have reached your goals for this term. Have you attended lectures, joined a club or society, volunteered, etc? If you met your targets, well done! Add your experiences to your CV, write a plan for the summer, or simply enjoy your summer break! If you didn’t meet your targets, write a plan for over the summer or make notes for when you revisit your plan next academic year. -
Experience over the summer
Whether you do a job or voluntary work that's related to your career aspirations or not, summer experience can give you skills that employers will look for and will be an excellent addition to your CV. The vacancy board on Career Hub has a list of paid positions advertised. If you’d like to discuss your job search technique, or anything career related, book a careers discussion appointment by logging into Career Hub from 9:30am on the day you want the appointment.
