Finalist Focus
Welcome to Finalist Focus!
Now you are completing your course, we are here to help you prepare for what comes next. Whether it's work, further study, volunteering or something completely different - we've got the resources to help you make it happen. Wherever you are in your career-planning, we've got you covered.
Throughout June and early July, we're running a series of online and in-person events to help you plan your next steps - including sessions on Effective CVs and Cover Letters; How to Pick a Career; How to Find an Internship; Navigating the Graduate Jobs Market and more! We’ll also be running drop-in sessions in the Student Services Centre, for you to have a chat with one of our team about your plans, whether you have a clear idea of next steps or are just starting out. We’ve lots of resources to help with your planning beyond Cambridge - which you can find here
Finalist Focus
We have a range of premium platforms to help you prepare for work. These cover online CV review, video interview practice, recruitment tests, global job hunting, sourcing funding and much more. You'll find them all on Handshake - so sign up now!
We also have a dedicated Handshake Guide for Finalist Focus, navigating you through the key steps in preparing for work.
Our popular careers blog is a great way to get a quick overview of some key topics in graduate recruitment. You'll find inspiring stories of Cambridge alumni as they share their career journeys, and gain valuable insights into trends in the labour market. We've also got a dedicated blog for postdocs.
The Alumni LinkedIn group is a great space for connecting with over 400,000 graduates, discovering their journeys and making your next steps. Find out more on how to make the best of it here
If you are planning to work and live overseas after Cambridge, you can benefit from joining any of more than 400 volunteer-led Alumni Groups around the world - an invaluable source of support.
We're here for you beyond graduation too. You'll have access to the careers service via our Handshake platform. Don't forget that your @cam email address will expire if you are leaving Cambridge. To continue accessing our support just log in and update your email address in the 'My Profile' section.
Next year you will also be asked to complete the Graduate Outcomes Survey - a nationwide census of recent graduates.
Why should you do it?
Your feedback helps shape the future of higher education by providing valuable insights into career paths. It supports current and future students in making informed decisions about their own studies and career plans.
Keep an eye on your inbox – your voice matters!
Effective CVs Monday 30th June, 14:00-15.00
This online session will help you:
- Describe the purpose of a CV
- Recognise key features of an effective CV
- Identify practical ways to tailor a CV
International Finalists –Graduate Visas and Navigating the UK Jobs Market Wednesday, 2nd July, 13:00-14:15
- An overview of how the UK graduate jobs market works and what employers are looking
- Advice on how to research and search for jobs within different sectors
- Guidance on switching to the post-study Graduate visa
- Opportunity for Q&A.
Navigating the Graduate Labour Market Thursday, 3 July 13:00 - 14:00
In this Career Essentials session on ‘Navigating the Graduate Labour Market’ you will learn more about the types of opportunities available after graduation, what impacts the jobs market and the various pathways alumni have taken to navigate their career path.
Focussing on the UK labour market, this session will enable you to:
- Identify key areas of the graduate labour market and the types of opportunity within it.
- Interpret information on how and when a person can enter the graduate labour market, using a case study.
- Develop 1 action to access the graduate labour market, to support your own career planning.
Effective Cover Letters & Personal Statements Friday, 4 July 14:00 - 15:00
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to create a cover letter with impact, whether applying for internships or your first graduate role. A cover letter is often requested by employers as part of the application process.
How to pick a career Monday 7 July 2025 14:00 - 15:00
Are you unsure how to begin choosing a career that's right for you? Perhaps you're not sure about where to start, how to decide between different options open to you, or which approach to career planning would work best for you.
During this workshop we will:
- Introduce a variety of ways to approach career planning
- Think about what process is most useful for you
- Hear tips from alumni about what worked for them
- Discover resources to get you started
Drop in for a quick chat about anything career-related: 1-4pm, every weekday from June 16th-27th, outside the Student Services Centre, off Bene't Street. Here’s a 30 second Find Us video We’ll be joined by the Alumni Engagement team on June 19th, 23rd & 26th so you can collect your CAMCard at the same time.