Aston Clinical Academic Training Office
First Year
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Welcome to Aston University
Here’s how Careers and Placements can support you in building skills and exploring opportunities throughout your first year.
You’ve got a lot going on – settling in, starting your course, making friends – so it’s easy to feel like your career and work experience can wait.
However, everything you do this year contributes towards achieving your dream job.
We Recommend Getting Started With Aston Futures
It’s Your Go-to Place For Job Opportunities, Events, And Booking Appointments With Careers And Placements Staff And Much More. To Get Started, Follow This Timeline
September to December
Clubs and societies
Aston has a huge choice of clubs, societies and extra-curricular activities. Join in, meet new friends and have fun – alongside building skills and experience that’ll set you apart when you’re looking for placements and other opportunities.
Part-time jobs and volunteering
If you’re looking for part-time jobs or volunteering positions, the Careers & Placements Team can help. Gaining work experience now will help you explore different sectors and develop key skills, giving you a strong competitive edge when applying for placements and graduate roles.
Meet your Careers and Placements team
You may not need us yet, but it’s good to know we’re here. Visit Careers and Placements in the Student Solutions Centre to meet the team and access our resources.
January to March
Which career?
If you don’t already have a career in mind, that's fine. Now’s the perfect time to start researching options and exploring possibilities with the help of our team, as well as looking for relevant part-time jobs.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Develop your CV
Even though you might not have a lot to add just yet, it’s good to have a draft of your CV ready to build on and develop as you progress. There’s plenty of CV templates, CV Guides and advice to get you started in our Resource Library, and you can book a tutorial on Aston Futures.
Explore insight experiences and short term internships
Insight experiences and short-term internships are a great way to gather invaluable work experience while being able to test-drive possible career options. The UK's biggest employers offer these opportunities to students on a regular basis, with some aimed at students studying for specific degrees.
April to June
Research placement activities
We know what you’re thinking: 12 months ahead… is it really necessary? Well, some big names will be opening placement applications very soon, so it’s never too early.
Tailor your CV
Spend time updating your CV with any new experiences from the last year. Depending on the job or placement you're aiming for, you’ll want to tailor it. If you’re unsure about anything, book a careers appointment or attend a careers drop-in.
Over the summer
Give yourself a boost
There are a few things you can do to enhance your CV and prepare for the year ahead:
- Find some part-time jobs and volunteering work to help you gain new skills and experience.
- Look into the various industries and occupations linked to your degree and consider researching individual companies too, so you’ll be in a prime position to apply for placements.
- Set aside some time for psychometric tests. They’re often used in applications for placements and internships, so practising will help you feel more relaxed.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Stay up to date with the latest job opportunities, events and top tips by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Useful Resources
We've hand-picked these resources for first-year students. There's support with making a decision on career options, building your CV and getting prepared for interviews of all kinds.
Which Career?
Not sure what to do for your placement year or what career to pursue after graduating? Don't worry – our range of resources will help you figure it all out.
Get Experience
Your first year at Aston is the ideal time to start building up work experience to add to your CV. Trust us – it'll prove invaluable for jobs, interviews and opportunities.
CVs, Applications and Interviews
Need help getting started with your CV or completing an application? Our top tools and resources will support you across every part of the recruitment process.
Internships & Insight Experiences
A list of companies offering short term internships and events for students from any degree programme
Careers Guide for First Years
We highly recommend you download a copy of our careers guide – it's jam-packed with useful information and nuggets of wisdom.
Download a copy
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills