Aston Clinical Academic Training Office
Mid-degree
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Whether you're taking a placement year or going straight on to final year, we're here to support you along the way.
You’re partway through your degree, whether you’re on a 3-year or 4-year course, there’s still plenty to do to get yourself ready for the job market. This year is key – it’s time to think ahead and get yourself on the right path as early as possible to beat the rest.
Use the timeline below to keep an eye on the biggest dates in your calendar.
September to December
Start planning for next summer
No matter what course you are on, now is the time to start planning.
- Life and Health Sciences students looking for a postgraduate training or pre-registration position
- Business students looking for a summer internship
- Pharmacy, Finance, Optometry, Law – whatever your course, if you want to be part of a Summer Vacation Scheme
It pays to think about it early. The biggest companies get inundated with applications early on, and many have pre-Christmas deadlines. If you have a destination in mind, act now. And if you don’t, start researching to find out the amazing choices available.
Aston Placements
Placements are fantastic opportunities to get career experience, but also to visit new towns – new countries, too. Did you know you can study abroad? It counts as a placement! Explore, experience and enjoy something completely different, before finishing your course.
Start planning – some of the most popular placements get filled up pre-Christmas.
Get advice
If you're not sure where your degree can take you yet, then now is the time to get ideas and guidance. Get in touch with a Careers Consultant and explore the Which Career part of the website to discover the options that appeal to you.
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.
Tailor your CV
By now you should have a CV. It’s essential for any application, so having it to hand is always useful. Don’t worry if it seems quite short - your CV will grow and develop as you do.
Check out our events
Throughout this term, the Careers and Placements team holds events and fairs that introduce you to employers. Come along to get tips on how to make a great impression, and find out who offers graduate opportunities and who recruits early. You can find our events on Aston Futures.
January to March
Practise for interviews
Just like anything else, the more you practise, the better you will be at interviews. Video applications, interview techniques and psychometric testing – a tool many employers use as part of the interview process – we’ve got everything you need.
Consider SMEs
Still looking for your perfect internship or placement? Consider a small or medium-sized enterprise. SMEs are full of independent, creative experts offering you the perfect place to gain experience. SMEs have huge benefits to offer students over larger corporations – and they start advertising their positions now.
Keep Aston Futures updated
Log in to Aston Futures and update your preferences.
April to June
Graduate jobs – already?
Yes, really. If you’re approaching your final year, start thinking about graduate positions. After all, there are a lot of graduates, and only so many jobs. Get your applications in early – and then practise interview techniques and try some psychometric testing.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Network
You can’t know everyone, but it certainly helps to familiarise yourself with others working in the same industry. Discover professional bodies and join online forums and groups – LinkedIn is your friend here. Get out and about within the university – join clubs and meet others with similar aspirations. One day you could all be on the same team.
Don’t panic
Not sure of your plans for the next year? Seek advice from the Careers and Placements team. You never know what ideas we have up our sleeves.
Over the Summer
Get ready for placement
There are a few things to do in preparation for your placement. Head over to preparing for your placement to see what you need to do.
Get your finances sorted
If a placement is your next stop, then you’ll need to get your finances in line. Upload your job description and contract to MAP for approval by your Placement Coordinator – kick-starting the finance process.
Useful Resources
Placements
Learn about your placement options, where to find a placement and what you need to do once you've secured a placement.
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
If you're hoping to secure a placement, gaining work experience is vital to give yourself the edge in a crowded market. Trust us- it'll prove invaluable.
CV, Applications and Interviews
Get yourself prepared for the placement recruitment process with our range of tools of resources. Update your CV, practice video interviews and much more.
“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