Ten ways to launch a career

If you've broken most of your New Year's resolutions already, promise yourself you'll act on the following advice and maximise your chances of standing out in the cut-throat world of graduate recruitment

Careers fairs start from February, with the majority held in June and October. Attending a careers fair can give you a real focus for finding employment, as well as the chance to talk informally to employers.

1. Go to careers fairs

Careers fairs start from February, with the majority held in June and October. Attending a careers fair can give you a real focus for finding employment, as well as the chance to talk informally to employers.

Zoe Olsberg is one of the organisers behind the National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition. "The most important thing is that students get to talk to someone face to face, and ask the questions that matter to them," she says. "It's also about making an impact even before you've applied with a company. If a graduate turns up to a careers fair wearing a suit with a CV prepared, then a company can see that they're serious and committed to their career. Students can also use the fairs to get information about a company which can be used to tailor a job application. If you're applying for a job, you can mention that you've already found out about an organisation at a careers fair. This puts you in a much stronger position."

Careers fairs also offer a host of other services, including CV clinics and interactive challenges, and many will subsidise transport costs. A comprehensive list of dates and subject areas can be found at www.prospects.ac.uk, or visit your university careers centre.

2. Brush up your CV

If you've got a hastily put-together CV for holiday temping work, resolve to overhaul the content. Spending a few hours perfecting your CV now allows you to apply immediately for jobs later in the year. As Sheffield graduate Richard Hill explains: "Towards the end of my final year it became quite difficult to juggle job applications with the large amounts of university work I was doing. In retrospect, I probably should have gone through my CV early in the year when I had more time."

University careers advisers can provide help with your CV if you feel undecided as to the format or content. Or you can take advice from recruitment expert Jayne Morris, who works for specialist agency The Principal Partnership. Morris says: "The most important part of a CV is including a profile. Something which is readily accessible to the eye, and includes your key strengths, and what you look for in a company. Also make a clear indication of your IT skills - don't bury them at the bottom."

3. Visit the university careers centre

Students pay for university careers services indirectly through fees, so it makes sense to take advantage of what's on offer.

Julian Rhys-Williams is the head of careers at the University of Hertfordshire. "Many people think that it's just one-to-one careers advice where you book an appointment. Obviously there is this, but we also have facilities to help put together CVs, and run practical workshops where students can learn about anything from career planning to interview techniques. Students can take practice aptitude tests and mock interviews. Even though we do widely publicise our activities, many students remain blissfully unaware of the things we have to offer."

4. Buy an interview outfit

Get yourself to the shops and find a cut-price interview outfit. Do it early to save yourself a charity shop trawl when you run out of money later in the year, just as you land an interview. Experts suggest that an employer forms a lasting impression within 60 seconds of meeting you, so looking the part is worth some early sales shopping.

5. Gain some extra skills

There are many ways to gain extra skills without having too much of an impact on your studies and social life. A recognised qualification for computer skills, for example, can be a useful CV enhancer, and is fairly easy to obtain. Highly recommended is the government-sponsored website, www.vision2learn.co.uk. This provides access to free online courses, leading to NCFE qualifications. The courses consist of short modules which you can access in your own time and complete at your own pace. University IT departments also often have subsidised computer courses, or you might elect to pay for a short course. Private companies such as Pitman Training offer a tailored graduate package to fast-track in Microsoft skills, as well as courses in keyboarding skills.

6. Get a sensible e-mail address

A recent survey of HR managers by Yahoo! found that 51 per cent would be put off a candidate who had a "wacky" e-mail address. Although a university e-mail account is perfectly acceptable, it may cause you problems on graduation, when the address expires. There are now many providers who will furnish you with a free e-mail account, including Yahoo!, AltaVista and Hotmail. If you start using one now, companies will be able to get in touch with you after you graduate.

7. Sign up to the milkround

Your university careers service will offer you the chance to receive regular emails about company activities on campus, so make sure you're signed up. In addition to university services, there are also a number of internet services that put your CV online and e-mail you directly with job opportunities. Post your CV at www.milkround.com, or www.monster.com and you'll receive regular updates on graduate roles, as well as advertising your skills to prospective employers. The earlier you do this, the more time you'll have to respond to interesting e-mails regarding employment.

8. Look into working abroad

If you'd like to work abroad, now is the time to consider your options.

Als Vowels graduated from the University of Leeds last year. She took a year following her graduation to teach sailing in Greece, as well as travelling extensively. "I had actually got the main details figured out well in advance, which turned out to be a really good idea," she says. "As soon as I finished my exams I was able to skip the country, which was a great feeling."

Options available specifically for students include the Fulbright Commission ( www.fulbright.co.uk) which allows students to take up to a year studying in America. BUNAC also offers students the chance to work abroad during the summer holiday. For students and recent graduates, the Council of International Educational Exchange ( www.ciee.org.uk) has a host of opportunities to work in a variety of countries. In addition to this, many universities allow a year's exchange in another country as part of your studies; or if you feel like going it alone, Work Your Way Around the World by Susan Griffith is an excellent resource.

9. Sign up for some clubs and societies

If you haven't joined any clubs or societies yet, then give some serious thought to doing so. At the very least this should give you a few examples to add to the slew of "describe a situation where you showed leadership"-style questions on graduate application forms. In addition, clubs are great places to meet people, which has the added (if slightly cynical) advantage of building a network of contacts. Choose a club which reflects your career goals and you'll surround yourself with like-minded people to bounce ideas off and learn from.

10. Consider further study

If you're considering taking a Masters or a Doctorate, think about clarifying your options. Your tutor should be able to advise you on which courses might be of interest and what kind of funding could be available. Bursaries and loans are available from a number of research councils and applications for support are usually due around early March, although students should check with their institution.

Pauline Harris is a careers adviser at the University of Nottingham. "Students should think about their course in terms of what excites and interests them, because whatever they do at postgraduate level will be in some depth and they'll be spending a lot of time on it," she says. "Also remember that the application is asking for access to study a particular area, and is not just a case of filling in details. The form is a chance to sell yourself, and postgraduate qualifications do represent a major investment for students; particularly if they're graduating with a huge debt."