Finalist Futures

If you are in your final year of study and need support, help is at hand. There's loads of information here, and elsewhere on our website, and the Careers Network team provides expert careers advice and guidance.

EVENTS TAILORED FOR FINAL YEAR STUDENTS

Finalist Futures: Get Career Ready > Book your place

Wednesday 08 October 2025: 3.00pm-5.00pm - EHB.1.04 - In person

Along with other finalists, join in the activities and think about your options.  At this informal event you can:

Meet the finalist careers coach team
Ask your questions and get advice
Learn how to use and sign up for relevant online tools
Understand how to access further events and one to one support

Finalist Futures: Exploring your options after graduation > Book your place

Thursday 09 October 2025: 1.00pm-2.00pm - Online

As you reach the final year of your studies, your thoughts might be turning towards what to do afterwards.  You may already have a good idea, some ideas or no idea at all about your next steps. This session is an opportunity to find out how to explore career options, clarify job, role or employer choices, or just consider whether the path you’ve chosen is the best one for you.

Finalist Futures: Getting a Graduate Job > Book your place

Thursday 16 October 2025: 12.00pm-1.00pm - Online

As undergraduate study slowly comes to an end, many finalists turn their attention to finding a graduate job afterwards. But what options are open to you, where can you find vacancies and how do you apply? This session explores the many places you can find graduate level opportunities. 

EVENTS 'OPEN TO ALL' STUDENTS

Open to all: Making successful applications workshop > Book your place

Wednesday 21 October 2025: 1.00pm-3.00pm - B0.07 - In person

First impressions count! Employers receive hundreds of applications. How can you make sure that yours stands out? 

Open to all: Impressing at Interviews > Book your place

Wednesday 29 October 2025: 1.00pm-3.00pm - B1.14 - In person

This session will cover:

The various formats of interviews and the question types you might encounter.
The differences between good interview answers and bad ones.
Demonstration of our online tools that can help you with your interview performance.
A segment on practising your interview responses and techniques in a safe environment with other students.
Further support and Q & A.

Open to all: Plan Your Career Journey session > Book your place

Tuesday 04 November 2025: 12.00pm-1.00pm - Online

This facilitated session will show participants the key features of this new online course.  A careers professional will be online to answer any questions you might have and offer advice on where to find additional careers support.

Open to all: Excel in Employer Selection Processes > Book your place

Thursday 06 November 2025: 12.00pm-1.00pm - Online

This facilitated session will show participants the key features of the online course.  In addition, a careers professional will be online to answer any questions you might have and offer advice on where to find additional careers support.

Open to all: Exploring Entrepreneurship > Book your place

Thursday 13 November 2025: 1.00pm-2.00pm - Online

Discover the boundless possibilities and support available through the Loughborough Enterprise Network.

It can be hard to know where to start looking for a job as a finalist, whilst juggling coursework deadlines and other commitments. At Careers Network we have information on a wide range of topics to help guide you through the process, and we suggest the following pages and information to get started:

Jump to Choosing your career for some tips on how and where to begin your career planning.
Visit our Options with your degree page to find out more about what careers your course could lead to. You can find information such as key skills you have developed as a student, resources to research career areas and to help you look for graduate jobs.
Use the Job profiles on Prospects to research careers within a specific field, case studies, skills and further qualifications that may be needed for the role.
Book a Careers Coaching appointment to map out your ideas and talk about your career. You do not have to know what you want to do to book an appointment.
Look on the LinkedIn Alumni tool to find out where our Loughborough alumni are working to inspire you on your career journey.

The Careers Network team is here to provide support and inspiration to help you, whatever your needs. For up-to-date details see Book an appointment.

Careers Hub: Edward Herbert Building 2.03: drop in with any careers related query, 11.00 -3.00 on weekdays during term time.

Careers and Enterprise Advice: 20-minute appointments to check CVs, covering letters, or application forms, prepare for interviews and assessment centres or to ask any careers related query. Available via MS Teams or telephone or in-person. Book online or via telephone 01509 222765.

Careers Coaching: 30 minutes available via advance booking only - for an in-depth discussion with a Careers Coach about your career. You do not need to have a career in mind for this appointment. Available via MS Teams or telephone or in-person. Book via telephone 01509 222765.

Interview Coaching: 30 minutes available via advance booking only - for an opportunity to practise your interview technique with a Careers Coach. Available via MS Teams, telephone or in-person. Book via telephone on 01509 222765.

Business and Enterprise Coaching: Email LEN@lboro.ac.uk to request an appointment or visit Embrace Entrepreneurship for more information.

Attend events e.g. our careers fairs and online employer events, to network and find out about opportunities.

Find jobs and work experience using Get Placements, Internships and Graduate Roles with a variety of links and information, including our vacancy database Target Connect.

Your careers coach will be sending you emails and/or newsletters with jobs, opportunities and other information relevant for your school.

There are a variety of different types of jobs and opportunities available that finalists can apply for post graduation. You can also still gain work experience during your final year of study. These include:

Graduate schemes/programmes - a structured role (usually between 1-3 years in length) more common in larger companies, combining work and training and requiring a degree
Finalist Internships - usually a short-term role undertaken during your last year of study. Explore Loughborough's Careers Network Talent Match programme; paid, short-term opportunities in the UK and abroad, created exclusively for Loughborough students.
Graduate internships - a shorter term role (usually between 1 month and 1 year) often within small to medium size organisations, working on a specific project or within a specific department/team.
Entry level roles - usually offered in more niche areas such as charities, journalism, social enterprises, sport and within small to medium size organisations in which you progress from entry level by demonstrating your competence and future potential
Work shadowing - a short period of shadowing a professional(s) within a role and organisation of interest to you to learn more about the role. Workshadowing is typically between 1 day and 2 weeks maximum in length as it is unpaid.

Information on where to look for these roles can be found on our Find jobs and work experience pages which includes both websites, Target Connect and job hunting through networking.

We have a range of support available to develop your skills and competence in applying for graduate level roles. You can get support from Careers Network from initial application right through to interview and accepting a job offer.

We would encourage you to consider engaging in the below options to maximise the effectiveness of your applications.

Access the Make Applications web page for guidance on applying for jobs.
Download our useful frameworks from the Personal Best App.
Have a Careers and Enterprise Advice appointment, or drop in to one of our Careers Hubs to get your CVs, covering letters and application forms checked.
Use eCareers Grad, Graduates First or book an Interview Coaching Appointment.
Access support on Employer Tests to improve your performance including practice software called Graduates First.
Attend a Mock Assessment Centre to learn about the process and 'have a go' in a safe and friendly environment.

Further study can demonstrate enhanced technical and transferable skills and a commitment to your subject.

Further study at Loughborough

If you are a Loughborough graduate thinking of applying for a postgraduate course at either of the Loughborough University campuses, you could apply for our Alumni Bursary which awards you up to 10% off tuition fees. You may also be eligible for a UK Government Postgraduate Loan. Find out more about funding options on the University web page Funding, scholarships and tuition fees.

For advice on choosing a course you can speak to your personal tutor, or come to one of the postgraduate open events where you can speak to current master’s students, which is a great way to find out about their experiences of studying at the next level.

You are able to order a prospectus or view our courses online for further information.

Further study outside of Loughborough

The Careers Network team can provide you with impartial information, advice and guidance on postgraduate study. You can have a Careers Advice or Career Coaching appointment to go through your options and help you make a decision that is best for you. We can also check your personal statement for your postgraduate applications. Information on how to book an appointment is available here.

We have more information available on our postgraduate study pages on topics including:

Types of postgraduate courses and choosing the right course
Reasons for choosing to apply
Advantages and disdvantages of postgraduate study

If you’re thinking about going freelance, being self-employed or starting a business after graduating, Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) provides the space for enterprising students and graduates to connect across both our Loughborough and London campuses.

From inspired idea to the next big business start-up, we support students and graduates on their business journeys by providing valuable opportunities for them to develop a highly desirable, entrepreneurial mindset.

More information about the support we provide can be found in Embrace Entrepreneurship, or you can contact us directly at LEN@lboro.co.uk.

We send regular newsletters to all our current final year students. They will also be published below throughout the year.