Explore your options

If you are wondering where to begin, take a look at these starter activities. 

• Try the Prospects Career Planner or Job Match tools
• Student stories - read, watch or listen to the experiences of current and past students
• Personality questionnaires and psychometric testing can give you an idea of what career you may be suited to 

If you have more time then you can work through the Canvas careers course or website that best suits you: 

• Explore Your Career (Engineering & Physical Sciences)
• Your Degree - What next? (Social Sciences)
• You, Your Degree, Your Future (Arts & Law)
• Explore Your Options (Life & Environmental Sciences)
• Postgraduate Professional Development Canvas course - for Postgraduate Taught students. Go to the Career Planning and What can I do with a Masters Degree modules.
• Career options beyond academia and What are my career options with a PhD?  - for Postgraduate Research students

A great way to inspire your thinking about your future is to come to one of Careers Network's sessions.

Attending will help you to explore your options, access support and ideas, and decide what to do next.

Current student

Quote about a careers appointment

“The adviser was so helpful and provided the exact information and guidance I required to see what doors are open for me. I feel a lot less overwhelmed with the idea of my career and feel like I actually know where to start looking now!”

If you feel ready to talk to one of our careers advisers then book a short appointment for a one-to-one chat.

Even if you have no idea where to start or what you want to do with your future, our advisers can help.

You might even have a few ideas that you need help exploring but this is not essential. The most important thing is to get started.

If you are ready to commit to something a little more in depth then you could look at applying for one of these programmes and opportunities available to students: 

• The Birmingham Award (formerly the Personal Skills Award) - for undergraduate students
• Postgraduate Professional Development Award - for postgraduate taught students
• Work Experience & Internships
• Mentoring
• The Birmingham Project

Explore your options and gain an insight into industry sectors by browsing resources, researching work experience and job opportunities, or by attending an Insight Into event.

Insight Into events enable you to hear from professionals from a range of sectors via speaker panels, Q&A sessions and networking.

Three slightly different options you might be considering:

• Further study
• Working abroad
• Starting a business

If you want to find out more, then try these extra sources of information and advice: 

• Canvas - Making Career Choices - self-enrol on course
• Canvas - Considering Further Study - self-enrol on course
• Canvas - enroll on the PG Skills course
• LinkedIn Learning (playlist for explorers)
• Videos (playlist for explorers)
• Event recordings (recording of our Kick Start Your Career - Explore session)
• Student stories - watch and read stories from students and graduates talking about their career journey 
• Careers Network podcast - Career Talk