5 things to do this holiday to improve your job prospects

It's nearly the Christmas holidays and we hope you have a fab time over the festive period. Here are 5 things you can can do over the break to get ahead in job applications or help you finish your UCAS form next term. Read on...

1. Plan an exciting gap year

If you’re not sure what you want to do in the future, don’t worry. It’s not easy to have everything figured out, and you don’t have to. While you’re considering the different paths open to you, a working gap year could be a great fit. You’ll gain work experience and new skills while keeping your options open.

2. Get some volunteering brownie points

Christmas is a great time of year to get that warm fuzzy feeling by lending a hand to people who might be less fortunate.

You could spend some time helping out at a local charity or community group, like a youth club or soup kitchen.

You’ll be helping yourself too, because volunteering is actually a fantastic way to build up work experience that will help you in your career.

3. Polish up that UCAS application

Are you hoping to head off to uni in 2018? Then Christmas is a good time to finish off the perfect UCAS application, as the deadline is coming up on 15th January. We know the UCAS application is daunting, but with our five top tips, it’ll be easy as pie – mince pie, that is (sorry, we couldn’t resist).

4. Kick back and take it easy

Yep that’s right, this Christmas we’re also encouraging you to spend some time doing…nothing. We know that the school can sometimes seem a bit overwhelming. Stress gets the better of all of us at one point or another. That’s why it’s important to take some time for yourself and look after your mental health. Read our advice on dealing with stress.

5. Get some career inspo

Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down in school work and applications and forget about the big picture: your brilliant, exciting future! That’s where we come in. We’ve got loads of great career stories that will inspire you, no matter what path you’re considering.

There’s Ghada, who became the UAE's first female pilot and Tara, who loves her job as an engineer. Then there’s Rory, who tweets for a living!

Have a great Christmas!