{"id":8940,"date":"2025-07-10T09:36:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T08:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=8940"},"modified":"2025-07-10T09:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T08:40:33","slug":"plans-over-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2025\/07\/10\/plans-over-the-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Plans over the summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; next_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_module=&#8221;322&#8243;][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=&#8221;322&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; menu_id=&#8221;8&#8243; submenu_direction=&#8221;downwards&#8221; fullwidth_menu=&#8221;off&#8221; module_class=&#8221;main-navigation&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_background_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; next_background_color=&#8221;#1d1d1d&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; specialty_columns=&#8221;2&#8243;][et_pb_row_inner locked=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column_inner type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; saved_specialty_column_type=&#8221;2_3&#8243;][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; title=&#8221;on&#8221; meta=&#8221;on&#8221; author=&#8221;on&#8221; date=&#8221;on&#8221; categories=&#8221;on&#8221; comments=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;on&#8221; featured_placement=&#8221;above&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_background=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.17.6&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>This summer, I\u2019m taking a breath \u2014 but also getting ready for what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n<p>With my EY placement as a Technology Consultant starting this September and final year not far off, this summer feels like the perfect time to pause, recharge, and prepare. It\u2019s probably the last real break I\u2019ll get before things shift into full-time work mode, so I\u2019m trying to make the most of it \u2014 balancing rest with progress.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how I\u2019m spending the next few months before the chaos kicks in again.<\/p>\n<h2>Gearing Up for My Placement Year<\/h2>\n<p>Knowing I\u2019ll be working full-time soon makes this summer a great opportunity to sharpen some key skills and feel more confident heading into my EY role. I\u2019ve already developed a solid base in SQL and data analytics, but I want to deepen that knowledge and get more hands-on with tools like Python, Power BI, and data visualisation platforms.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been exploring online courses through platforms like Coursera and DataCamp \u2014 nothing too intense, just steady learning a few hours a week. I\u2019m especially focusing on the kinds of tools I might use in client projects, like dashboards, reporting tools, and data workflows in real business contexts.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t about being perfect before I start \u2014 it\u2019s just about being prepared enough to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n<h2>Looking Ahead: Life After University<\/h2>\n<p>While placement is my main focus right now, I\u2019ve also started thinking about my longer-term path \u2014 especially graduate schemes.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m interested in roles where technology meets finance, like data-driven strategy, digital transformation, or innovation within the banking and investment space. My placement will give me real-world experience in tech consulting, but I also want to keep building the skills and awareness that will help me stand out in future graduate applications.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m updating my CV, drafting early answers for typical interview questions, and reflecting on what I learned during last year\u2019s placement application process. Things like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tailoring my CV to specific roles<\/li>\n<li>Practising for assessment centres and online tests<\/li>\n<li>Improving how I explain my technical skills in competency based interviews<\/li>\n<li>And yes\u2026 never leaving applications or online assessment to the night before the deadline again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This time, I want to go in with more clarity. I\u2019m aiming for roles that combine technology, data, and finance \u2014 like data analytics in banking, fintech strategy, or innovation roles in investment firms.<\/p>\n<h2>Learning, But Also Living<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s not all work and prep \u2014 I\u2019m also making time to enjoy myself this summer. Whether it\u2019s hanging out with friends, getting a pint, or going karting on the weekends, I\u2019m trying to soak up these moments and make memories before everything changes.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll be relocating from Manchester to London for my placement year, so this summer has been about appreciating the little things \u2014 the people, the laughs, the freedom \u2014 before starting a whole new chapter in a new city. It\u2019s not about doing everything; it\u2019s about being present and making it count.<\/p>\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>This summer isn\u2019t about doing it all \u2014 it\u2019s about finding balance. I\u2019m using the time to reset, learn, and get ready for what\u2019s next, without burning out.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re preparing for a placement, thinking about grad schemes, or just figuring things out \u2014 take the pressure off. There\u2019s no one right way to spend summer. Do what helps you grow.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Written by Pak Yin Chan, a BSc ITMB student at The University of Manchester<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph ng-attr-widget\">\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; in_same_term=&#8221;off&#8221; show_prev=&#8221;on&#8221; show_next=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Previous&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.106&#8243; show_avatar=&#8221;on&#8221; show_reply=&#8221;on&#8221; show_count=&#8221;on&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;51&#8243; header_line_height_tablet=&#8221;2&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; locked=&#8221;on&#8221; parent_locked=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; 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--><\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pak Yin Chan, a BSc ITMB student at AMBS, discusses his plans for over the summer as he prepares for his placement year, whilst also thinking ahead to life after university. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7976,"featured_media":8941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ambs","category-undergraduate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8940"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8944,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8940\/revisions\/8944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}