Explore your options

If you are not sure which career you want to pursue, or you are ready to start exploring your options then you will find support here.

Learn about your options during and after your degree: different career sectors, developing an enterprising mindset, setting up your own business, further study, and working abroad. You might even have recently changed your mind about a career you had been set on pursuing.

Whether you have a rough idea of where you want to be but no idea how to get there, or no idea what you want to do at all, Careers Network offers resources, events and advice to help you get started.

You might feel like you have already done your exploring and are ready for the planning stage. Then take a look at our content for Planners.

1. Help with making career choices

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

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

2. Events for Explorers

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.

  • Coffee and Chats with Newton's Consultants
    Come and meet our consultants on campus and grab a free coffee! We’ll be available to answer all your questions about our graduate roles, life at Newton, and the application process. We look forward to meeting you!
    10:00 Thu 31 Oct 2024
    Law Arches (near Old Joe)
  • Top Tips for Job Searching
    Join our online session about job search techniques, websites, resources and what employers are looking for when recruiting.
    11:00 Thu 14 Nov 2024
    Online
  • GradJobs Live! & PostGrad Study Live!
    The UK’s leading graduate jobs fair returns to Olympia London on 14 November.
    11:20 Thu 14 Nov 2024
    Off campus (to be confirmed upon registration with employer)
  • Working in the UK After Your Studies - An Immigration Law Perspective
    UK immigration solicitors, Paragon Law, will discuss the main visa routes available to international students after their studies to work or set up in business.
    12:30 Thu 14 Nov 2024
    Online
  • Employability Series with Fieldfisher
    The second part of our two-part Skills Workshop aimed at teaching you the latter stages of our Application Process – Assessment Centres and Interview technique.
    17:30 Thu 14 Nov 2024
    Online - see URL listed in event description

3. Careers advice appointments

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.

4. Co-curricular and extra-curricular programmes to enhance your employability

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

5. Insight Into career sectors

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.

6. Options

Three slightly different options you might be considering:

  • Further study
  • Working abroad
  • Starting a business

7. Resources

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

Not found what you're looking for?

Unity Trust Bank

Description
Unity is a specialist business bank with a difference. Unity supports SMEs and organisations that share its values in wanting to contribute to positive economic, social and environmental change.

University College Birmingham

Description
With more than 7,500 students, University College Birmingham today is unrecognisable from the small Victorian classes where it all started.

University of Birmingham

Description
Careers Network is the University of Birmingham's award winning careers service for current and alumni students. Offering a range of tailored careers support from careers advice and guidance, internships, placements and graduate roles, mentoring, enterprise and entrepreneurial support.

University of Birmingham and Capgemini Community Challenge

Description
The Capgemini Community Challenge is your chance to gain work experience in a global consultancy firm, and help local charities.

UoB staff content

Description
Information on how the University of Birmingham staff can work with the University's careers service, Careers Network.

Up Our Street

Description
Get involved with social impact in Birmingham. When we think of Birmingham, we may think only of our University. We also belong to our City.The City of Birmingham. Birmingham is the second biggest city in the UK after London (with Manchester the third largest).

Up Our Street Dissertation Projects

Description
Information about industry based dissertation projects with Up Our Street.
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