End of Year Message and the Careers Service Over the Winter Holidays 2025-26
End of Year Message from Jonathan Black, Careers Service Director
It’s beginning to look a lot like… that time of year when your friends and family will be asking: “What are you going to do after you graduate?”
But this year, they may also add, “the job market is really bad at the moment for new graduates.”
It is correct that the job market IS tougher than previous years, as measured by the number of vacancies; for example, on CareerConnect, we have seen that number for this term is 16% lower than last year, and 40% lower than 3 years ago (though that itself was an upswing post-pandemic). So, yes, fewer vacancies but not disastrously so.
And in answer to the next helpful observation you might get, AI is not solely responsible for this reduction in vacancies – but AI is fuelling the numbers of applications that students are making, and potentially reducing their quality.
However, fear not: your Oxford University Careers Service has some answers you may find helpful for the dinner table conversation:
- I’ve been reading the Oxford Careers Service’s advice on using using AI in job applications and assessments
- I’ve been reading the 2026 Oxford Guide to Careers – would you like to see it?
- I’ve been to several 'Introduction to…' sessions and read many briefings on the Careers Service website to learn about industries – there are over 50 there and it’s completely open access so anyone can read them
- I’ve read all the job search and application advice and polished up my CV
- I’ve had / will book an advice appointment with a careers adviser – this is what we discussed …
- I’m going to try to get more work experience: so I’ll be applying for a place on the Oxford Strategy Consultancy programme, the Making a Difference programme, and the termly Micro-internship programmes, though all of these are really competitive nowadays
- I’m waiting for the Careers Service Summer Internship Programme to open in January
- I’ve set up some searches on CareerConnect – Oxford’s exclusive jobs board
- I’ve applied for a job or further study.
However little or much you do, have a restful and relaxing break – and we look forward to seeing you in 2026.
Closure periods
This winter vacation, the Careers Service is closed on the following dates:
- all day 11 December 2025
- between Wednesday 24 December 2025 and Sunday 4 January 2026, inclusive.
We're otherwise open as usual.
Get advice during the vacation
Advice appointments will remain available during the vacation period, apart from the closure period above. You can book your appointment in CareerConnect.
For careers information and guidance whilst we are closed, read our comprehensive Oxford Guide to Careers 2026 and explore our website. Here you will find a wide variety of resources, from advice on CVs, applications and interviews, to further study, job search strategies, and to apply for internships and work experience.
If you have a specific enquiry, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on hello@careers.ox.ac.uk or telephone 01865 274646.
