One Step at a Time

One Step at a Time Rowanna Smith is a Careers Consultant based on the Streatham Campus.   Rowanna Smith, Careers Consultant TIME it’s a funny thing. I bet if you look back at your study here at Exeter it’ll feel like it’s flown by, but remembering your first few days arriving on campus it probably feels like a lifetime ago! Keeping perspective is therefore quite tricky when the goal posts keep moving â€" completing your first Autumn Term had once seemed like a fantastic challenge, getting a particular grade may have been a goal, now ‘what are you going to do after graduation?’ seems to be the only focus. So at this particular crossroads, it’s really good to pause â€" TAKE TIME.  Be proud of what you’ve achieved; the friends you’ve made, the fun you’ve had, the struggles you’ve overcome, all that you’ve learned. A few moments of reflection can really help you to be aware of where you are, and create a new horizon. Making use of the range of services available through the Career Zone after graduation can help you to clarify your next journey and support you to reach your next goal. Some of you may be feeling completely lost about what you want to do, and seeing friends advancing with clear plans while you may be heading home can feel quite isolating.   Fast Forward provides a full list of careers-related services available to everyone long after graduation.   You can book onto our career webinars if there is anything you want to catch up on, as well as gain support from finding work, to helping you to work out what you want to do next.   You can book 1:1 Careers Appointments to discuss your circumstances over Skype, Phone or face to face a chat with a Careers Consultant can certainly help you stay connected and keep you on track. *tick tock tick tock* If you’ve planned to take some time out, perhaps travelling for a season, we can still support you via Skype, no matter the TIME ZONE, and even help you to find graduate opportunities abroad, or make plans for your return. For those of you that may be anxious that your ideal plans haven’t yet come to fruition; be assured that we are still available to support you. I’m a firm believer in the word ‘yet’.   If you feel you’ve failed, change your perspective you just haven’t reached your goal yet!   You can still have applications and CVs reviewed via Skype with the Career Zone, and talk to a Careers Consultant about targeting different employers or different types of work if your goals have changed.   You are still eligible to make use of The eXepert scheme which can put you in contact with University alumni to get advice on how to enter a chosen sector, occupation or company; extending your professional network.   So stay resilient, and remember that a detour to reach the summit can sometimes offer the best views!   You still have PLENTY OF TIME! Finally, if you’re keen to prepare for your new job and want to do some personal development before you start, then making good use of My Career Zone Digital offers some excellent online training.   There is also support on creating your LinkedIn profile, and developing your professional networks. So no matter quite where you are on your career journey, we have a range of opportunities available. Let us help you reach your destination, ONE STEP AT A TIME!