Coronavirus FAQs

It’s probably a good idea to do a bit of research to understand the situation of any employer you are interested in – it’s important to be sensitive to the challenges that organisations are currently facing. If you wish to make a speculative application, be very clear and concrete about the skills you bring, what you are able to do and your interest in that specific organisation. If you can have a conversation with someone working there before you make any application, all the better. 

Yes! If you’ve seen a job advertised on CareerHub or elsewhere and an employer is clearly still hiring, if it’s a role you’re interested in and you meet the criteria then, yes, you should go ahead and apply. Many employers emphasise that they will be continuing recruiting activities in the months ahead.

Absolutely! Building and maintaining a network can be a vital tool in your job search and career planning, helping you uncover possible opportunities, find out about different career areas and understand how you fit. 

You can use LinkedIn to connect with LSE’s very supportive alumni community.  Based all over the world, you’ll find that many will be very happy to share their professional experiences with you, offer advice and insights into different sectors and organizations even if they are not currently hiring. 

This is clearly a very personal decision and depends on your own study and other commitments. Employers are still recruiting, even if we may be seeing a reduction in the number of advertised jobs. Remember too that many opportunities, often in smaller companies and particular sectors, are sourced through speculative approaches. Now’s a good time to research sectors and companies and to start that all important process of networking. That way you’ll be best placed to hear about roles as and when they become available.

However things develop, there will be lots of ways of making good use of summer months and we’ll be offering advice and support over the coming weeks through our newsletter, website, blog posts, online sessions and one to one appointments, giving practical suggestions, whether your focus is career planning, earning some money or getting experience and developing useful skills. 

Reflect on your skills and think creatively about where you can contribute at this specific time. Do you have coding, data science or web design skills? What about online tutoring, translation or language training? Market research, data entry and website reviews can also be done from home.

If you have specific skills and interests, spend some time researching who is doing work in that area and consider reaching out to them directly, making clear what kind of support you can offer.

Our ISVAT team here at LSE has put together a list of FAQs covering visa questions, including advice on visa and internships and Tier 2 based on current Home Office advice.

If or when you return home is a very personal decision and obviously ultimately up to you. Have a think about your circumstances and revisit your motivations for staying in the UK.  Be honest with yourself.  Is securing a tier 2 visa unlikely? Do you have a backup plan? If your focus is building experience, what about an internship or other short-term position? Are there other places you could start your career?  Could a return to the UK be an option at a later point? While we can't make the decision for you, talking things through with a careers consultant can help you get clarity.

You can set up and record your own VI using Interview Stream or have a go at answering some pre-set practice interview questions typical to roles in a range of different sectors. Just trying something as simple as using your phone to record answers and playing them back can really help improve your technique. Do read our blog on VIs which goes into a bit more detail.

Virtual assessment centres, like their face to face counterparts, are a mix of individual exercises, group work and interviews. If you are invited to attend a virtual assessment centre, you will receive clear information on what to expect. Prepare as you would for any assessment centre, making sure you’ve thought carefully about why you’re interested in this role, this employer, how your skills fit your application, make sure your virtual environment is conducive, your tech is working and there will be no distractions. Approach things just as though you were attending in person. Be friendly and engaging – and avoid reading from notes! 

You’re likely to be presented with a set of information and asked to prioritise a number of activities; this might take the form of a pre-recorded, timed activity, or take place in real time where an assessor shares their screen with you and feeds information to you while you complete the task.

Studying for a master’s degree is always a big decision, not something to rush into, so it’s important to make sure you reflect carefully before deciding if it’s right for you. Do you have a genuine interest in the topic? Will it help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Are you ready to really commit to another year of study?

Remember, there are other ways to develop skills and experience so consider the alternatives: short courses, work experience, internships and volunteering opportunities. Make an appointment with a careers consultant to talk through your options and thoughts.  

While the set up may differ from an office-based experience, much of our advice remains the same. Do your research, dress professionally, show enthusiasm, ask questions, make suggestions, get involved. Take this opportunity to get to know your colleagues and the business; reach out to people and speak to them, take part in informal events, even when they’re virtual. Make sure you follow up to thank those you’ve worked with or who’ve taken the time to help you in any way. Afterwards, reflect carefully on the experience and what you’ve learned. 

NextStepSupport is an open collaboration between a number of organisations that provide support and services to students and recent graduates. You’ll find some useful employer updates, careers and advice and information advice, and links to virtual events.