I think this time of year must breed ‘the Blues’: the splintering cold winds; the regrets of our Christmas over-indulgence and a scary realisation that we’ve already reached 2012. No one can escape it. But to sit in a melancholic haze, with a hot cocoa, reminiscing over 2011 is no cure – the only medicine is action.

Whilst meandering through the popular work conversation topics of careers and engagement with a colleague, we achieved a pleasant conclusion. Roles are now rarely to be narrowly defined, instead being open, often encouraged, to be tailored for the incumbent. This is even more so the case for graduates. As I have said before, it is all too easy to sit in a role and become purely reactive. But as graduates, we can really benefit from the flexibility and diversity of our roles.

This can be in terms of responsibilities beyond our day-job, such as involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility policy, a graduate fundraising challenge or the upcoming Olympics. However, broadening our individual role could also entail picking up a combination of specialist and generalist skills; getting involved in activities your role doesn’t usually expose you to or becoming more engaged with, and thus having a better understanding of, the business. In effect, it is immersing yourself in activities that are interesting and engaging.

At this time of year, when the post-Christmas blues are in bloom, it can really help to assess and evaluate your role, in order to engage with it. While these opportunities are plentiful, there are no hand-outs. If you are able to a cast a mould that fits you, you will undoubtedly reap the rewards.