Let's get to it:

1. Spend more time in nature - Getting outside in nature can reduce your stress levels, but also allow you time to think and process things. What better way to make a walk even more productive by listening to our Get That Grad Job podcast – available on all streaming platforms.

If you are in Lancaster, our favourite nature walks are through Williamson’s Park, around the Canal (did you know you can walk from campus to town in about 1h by following the canal?), through the Fairfield Millennium Green and Community Orchard or on the Morecambe Promenade.

2. Learn a new skill - There are loads of online courses covering topics such as digital skills, marketing, creative skills, coding & more! The pandemic can be a challenging time to find work experience – so why not try to show your motivation and drive by obtaining a certification, and improve your employability? You can choose from more general ones like Lancaster’s own Digital Skills Certificate or iDEA or specialise in your own subject by looking up “[topic] free online certification”!

3. Start a new hobby - You can also use this time to take up other new skills – maybe you have always wanted to learn guitar like Jimi Hendrix or draw like Picasso – there is a YouTube tutorial for everything. Many companies and artists have created starter kits for beginners in knitting, embroidery, soap and candle making & more. January is also the time when content creators are launching beginner courses for activities like Yoga, home workouts or public speaking.

4. Utilise LinkedIn – We know it can look scary, but we promise that starting out is the hardest part (it doesn’t have to be!) - it all gets easier once you make the first step. If you've always wanted to start building your LinkedIn profile but were too afraid, come to one of our LinkedIn workshops or listen to our podcast episode. Take inspiration from others – people who inspire you, or your current colleagues and degree friends, and see how you can improve your page to make yourself shine!

LinkedIn is more than a type of social media – it's also a fantastic job-hunting tool! You can look up your favourite companies and see if they have any openings, and most importantly you can connect with current employees or the recruitment teams (especially LU alumni) and ask them for tips.

5. Become a virtual volunteer – If the world is looking helpless right now, the best way to fight against that feeling is to work together. Helping others in times of need will not only provide you with the motivation to do good, but it is also a good way to gain some valuable skills. Recognised by the Lancaster Award, volunteering is a fulfilling activity that many employers are looking for – it shows you are engaged in helping your local community and are committed to doing good.

If this is something you are strongly interested in, read our other blog about digital volunteering.

6. Connect – It may seem like everything has been put on hold at the moment. The move to online can make you feel more isolated even when there are plenty of things happening around you.

We’re still here. You can still talk to our expert Careers Advisers by booking an appointment or attending one of our quick careers queries. Finding work in difficult times can be challenging, but we’re here to help.

Connect with us! We're active on social media posting weekly vacancies, the upcoming workshops and employer events, interactive quizzes, polls and question boxes. We even post a little motivational illustration every Monday! Come join our community on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Hannah Allison is a Careers and Employment Adviser and a Lancaster Graduate. She regularly speaks to students in 1-1s and workshops, as well as working on the Lancaster Award, and hosting the popular ‘Get That Grad Job’ podcast.

Ilinca Turcan is the Careers Marketing Assistant and a recent Management School Graduate. She designs and coordinates all things social media from the latest job opportunities to the story quizzes.

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.