Careers
Do you need help in deciding what to do when you graduate? Do you need advice on finding work experience? Or advice on presenting yourself effectively in applications? Maybe you are unsure where to look for vacancies or how to go about securing support to set up your own business? Whatever the query, your careers service can be a first step one-stop-shop for help and advice.
Impartial information, advice and guidance about your future is available from your careers service and if you haven’t already made contact or looked at your career service website, then do so now.
University careers services can provide you with advice on targeting your CV to jobs and market sectors, help with planning your applications and preparing for interviews. All advice is impartial and provided in confidence.
Careers services also have available vacancy listings from global and regional employers, information about employer activities, and information about post-graduate study and funding.
If you are thinking about ideas for taking time out, or doing something different like starting your own business they can also help. And they also provide information about living, working and studying outside the UK.
Careers service websites have detailed advice and information on many careers-related topics, and there are opportunities to take part in workshops and skills sessions both face-to-face and online, to help you to apply to employers effectively.
The careers service also works with academic departments to deliver support through the academic programme.
Students can access computer guidance programmes and psychometric tests and get advice on how to approach these and other selection exercises.
Staff in careers services are very interested in helping you to make the most of all the opportunities that present themselves to you. This wealth of choice can be daunting but remember you don’t have to know what you want to do before you go and talk to a careers adviser.
Talking to a careers adviser
Careers advisers know about their universities and are familiar with the subjects you may be studying. They have contacts and resources at their fingertips. They will be able to tell you how to find out about career options and help you to identify what areas of work you might be interested in. You will find careers advisers are open to your ideas and are prepared to discuss these with you whether they are very specific or rather vague.
If employment is your chosen route careers services can provide you with valuable resources which may include:
- Up-to-date information about recruitment trends and which employers are recruiting
- Possible work shadow schemes or contact with alumni who are happy to discuss their area of work with you
- Job shops which will give you the opportunity to find part-time work while you study
- Employer mentoring schemes where you can have a one-to-one mentoring relationship with an employer
- Careers fairs and employer presentations which will give you access to recent graduates working with these employers and also the opportunity to learn at first hand just what these organisations do.
What to do next
Don’t delay if you haven’t made contact yet. You have a unique opportunity to access professional information and resources during your studies, so do make the most of your university careers service. Some services continue to offer advice after graduation – contact them for details.
