Use your careers service to boost your chances of getting a job

Your university’s careers service houses loads of information and resources that you can use to explore careers, work experience, further study options and more. Find out how to make the most of yours.

Careers services (or employability centres, as some are now called) offer more than folders of information and they are there for the career-minded and career clueless alike. However, few students realise how there is on offer – from CV and applications clinics to tapping into alumni networks. Within the walls of the average careers service, and the firewalls of its website, are a wide range of services and activities all designed to help you make the most of your time at university, build on your employability skills, get the job or course you want and embark on the voyage to a successful future.

Careers advisers – friendly, knowledgeable and professional

Careers advisers, supported by information officers, are unsung heroes and experts of the graduate careers world. They know a lot about a lot of things and they want to help you. If you are getting information overload from trawling the web, or you feel sick with fear about what you are going to do with the rest of your life, careers advisers are the antidote. They can:

help you whittle down information to find the best bits
point you in career directions that you may not have considered were possible with your degree
help you discover your hidden talents (and examples of how you can demonstrate them)
explain your options for gaining work experience and extra skills
show you how to break down the job-hunting process into manageable steps
put you through your interview paces with a mock interview
health check your CV and applications
reassure you that you are on the right track
help you identify disability and diversity-friendly employers
help you explore your options for taking time out after you graduate
help you decide if further study is the right course
explain the UK job market to you if you are an international student
… the list goes on.

If they don’t know something about what someone with your degree and interests can do, then they probably know someone else who does. Ask them a question and they will probably ask you a few more back to set you on your road to discovery.

Alumni, employers and events – making introductions

Careers services are your bridge to the world outside university. If you want to see into the future, alumni (past graduates) could be the answer. Many careers services keep in contact with alumni and keep a database of those who are happy to be contacted by current students. You may be able to meet with a graduate who is working in a career that interests you or set up a work shadowing opportunity. Information on what graduates from your degree have gone on to do may also be available through the Destination of Leavers of Higher Education surveys that are compiled by careers services every year.

Employers like to meet prospective students and one of the best ways to do this is through visiting campus to attend careers fairs and events arranged by the careers service. A range of events are set up throughout the academic year, from general career and work experience fairs, to sector-specific events (eg law, IT, engineering and finance) and discovery sessions where experts come in to talk about their profession.

For an insider view on a particular organisation, keep an eye out for employer events and presentations co-ordinated by the careers service. At these presentations an employer will tell you what they have to offer and what they expect you to know about them – you can pick up some good tips for your applications and interviews and meet with people from the organisation.

Your careers service is also your route into the local jobs-market if you want to stay close to university during your summer vacation or remain in the region after you graduate. Careers services often have close relationships with local companies that employ graduates or are looking for part-time or temporary help – these employers don’t normally advertise online or in the mainstream graduate recruitment press. Drop into the careers service to find out more, sign up for regular job bulletins or beat a path to the ‘job shop’ door (if your careers service has one).

Workshops, clinics and skills sessions – practical help

Every student wants someone to tell them how to get a job. Term-time, rain or shine, careers services hold regular workshops, drop-in sessions and clinics to tell you how. You can sign up or drop in (depending on what’s on offer) and you will get your opportunity for some personal attention or to be part of a session where you can ask your questions. Careers service sessions can include:

CV and application clinics
assessment centre workshops
aptitude test practice sessions (under authentic conditions)
presentation skills training
business skills workshops (for budding entrepreneurs).

Job-hunting in a supportive environment – facilities and tools

From career planners and laser printer access to large print publications and information in a range of formats – the careers service is a haven for creative job or course hunting. In a supportive environment surrounded by focused information you’ll be in the right place to perfect your CV or applications, think about your skills and find the right employer or course for you.

Rely on the hindsight of previous graduates who wish they’d found the careers service sooner. Go in and have a good look around, sit down at a PC, ask the careers service staff questions to get started and book yourself on a session. If you’re anxious grab a friend and take them with you. If they are after the same jobs as you, don’t!

Easy things to find out about your careers service

The web address of your university’s careers service.
Where it’s located and how to get there.
When it’s open – term time and vacation.
Whether there is a dedicated careers adviser for your school or subject area.
Times of any drop-in sessions, CV and application clinics, group exercise and aptitude practice tests.
Timetable of events and workshops arranged by the careers service.
What’s on offer for students in your year.

Whether you’re a fresher or a finalist, it’s never too soon or too late to pop along.

For more information about your university's job shop, check out our A–Z of university job shops.

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