Positive mindsets for career success

As we enter the summer break, it’s a good idea to use this time productively, whether that’s just starting to think about your career, building your transferable skills or landing that perfect internship. However, it’s equally important to also spend time nurturing your mind, body and wellbeing over the coming months, to avoid stress, overwhelm and burnout. One key component to help with this balance is recognising your ability to cultivate a positive mindset.

Keep reading for our 6 top tips to boost both your mindset and career success this summer!

1. Recognise your current mindset

It’s really important to take a few minutes to appreciate your current mindset. As UCL students and graduates, currently focusing on your education and embarking on your learning journey, I’m going to guess you already have a positive mindset, often described in psychological circles as a growth mindset. However, if you’re feeling stuck or experiencing self-doubt about your future career or work experience opportunities, keep reading to learn how to turn that fixed mindset into a positive, growth mindset this summer.

2. Challenge your thinking

A simple tip for refocusing your mindset is to reframe any areas that are concerning you. Worried that you have to find an internship soon? Reframe the language that you use with yourself. You don’t ‘have’ to find an internship, you ‘get’ to find an internship. Simply switching ‘have’ for ‘get’ immediately refocuses the situation, promotes positivity and excitement for the situation and helps with any negative procrastinating or overthinking that you may be experiencing.

3. Look at how far you’ve come

Whereas a negative or fixed mindset likes to remind you of previous failures or weaknesses, a positive mindset acknowledges everything you have learned from your past experiences. So you didn’t get the dream role despite completing a detailed application form, taking part in an extensive assessment centre process and attending an intense panel interview? Instead of focusing on the negatives, take pride in getting as far as you did and make sure you use the opportunity to gain valuable feedback from recruiters for your next application. Appreciate the small wins and take time out of your schedule to reward yourself for how far you’ve come. Perhaps you’ve finally perfected a winning CV or narrowed your career goals to a certain sector? Have confidence in your abilities and your skillset and make a list of all the positive achievements you’ve cultivated in the past 12 months.

4. Create new, exciting goals

Goals are an excellent way to structure your career motivations this summer and make sure you move from the planning stage to the action stage. Career goals don’t have to mean getting direct professional experience either; don’t forget about the huge variety of free online courses and digital resources available right now to boost your skillset and competencies. You may want to apply to a certain number of opportunities a week, or finally get on top of your CV, so setting a specific time in your planner each week or even using an application tracker may be useful here. Give yourself permission to start slowly, and just work on one or two areas that you know would be beneficial and valuable to employers in your desired sector. A positive mindset will guarantee you remain open to any opportunities or challenges, all further promoting your growth this summer.

5. Be flexible

Remember that goals are in place to help you achieve your aims, so if they start to hinder your progress, don’t feel bad about moving the goal posts. Flexibility and balance here are key, so continually check in with your progress and be realistic with what you can reasonably achieve across the summer break. Don’t forget, this time should also be a ‘break’ – schedule time for replenishing your mind and body before term starts again in September. Being kind to yourself is an important component in maintaining that positive mindset.

6. Accept help

A positive mindset does not have to be cultivated alone. Speak to your friends and family; find class-mates and make new friends with UCL Bentham Connect; literally anyone who shares your interests and motivations and really boost your networking capabilities across the summer months. Remember, you are not in this alone, and UCL Careers would love to help you on your career journey throughout the summer. Perhaps a one-to-one appointment would be beneficial? In these challenging times, it’s even more important to ensure your applications make a positive impact, so book an Applications Advice appointment if you have drafted an application for something specific and want advice on how to improve it before sending it off. You can also book a Short Guidance appointment with one of our Career Consultants to help you clarify ideas about your future and the options you want to explore, even if you are unsure about what path you want to take. Don’t forget to also sign up to the UCL Careers newsletter for weekly events listings and all things careers and employability. 

Wishing you all a wonderful summer from both your UCL Careers and Student Support and Wellbeing teams. 

Victoria Abbott, Recruitment & Selection Advisor, UCL Careers