Careers Corner

Careers Connect is your portal to help you in everything careers-related, now and into the future.

Login to your Careers Connect account with your University username and password.

Once logged in, you will be able see the range of support available to you and easily book appointments, find out what events are coming up and keep track of the latest jobs and opportunities.

Appointments are available both online and face to face. We offer various types of appointment, such as:

Advice and guidance appointments (20 minutes) 

Talk to one of our Careers Advisers about your career plans. Whether you have no ideas, a very clear idea of what steps you want to take, or you have completely changed your mind, book an appointment. 

Internship advice appointments (20 minutes)

Advice and support from one of our Internship Officers, where you can talk about sourcing work experience and internship opportunities, as well as funding and bursary schemes for work experience and internship placements. 

Application advice appointments (10 minutes) 

Feedback from one of our Employability Advisers on your CV, application, cover letter, personal statement or LinkedIn profile. Please review our online resources before attending an application advice appointment.

Practice interview appointment (30 minutes)

A thirty-minute Practice Interview with an adviser for students and graduates who have an upcoming interview or assessment centre.

Book an appointment - this link will take you to your Careers Connect student sign-in. Login with your university username and password and then you will be able to book your first appointment. 

New vacancies are added to Careers Connect daily so we recommend creating alerts for relevant roles so you don't miss out.

Search for opportunities in Careers Connect

Contact us with your questions via How can I contact Careers Network page.

Postgraduate students in the Business School can access the careers service provided by the Birmingham Business School Careers team: bbs-careers@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Access our careers services 24/7 at a time that suits you with our Digital Resource Hub  – get your CV checked, practise answering interview questions, learn a new skill to get job-ready, or explore sectors you might like to work in.

Yes. You stand a far better chance of being successful if you tailor your skills, experiences and achievements to what the employer has stated they are seeking in the job description and person specification. Check out on our Interview support page.

Yes. Many employers will accept a 2:2 degree classification. The person specification for the job role will tell you what level of qualification is required. Please visit the page Your option with a 2:2 degree for more informtaion.

Sharing a disability during the job application process is a personal decision, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are some considerations that might help you make an informed decision:

• Legal Rights: Depending on the country, there may be laws in place that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace. Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws in your jurisdiction to understand your rights.
• Timing: It is up to you when you chose to share your disability during the initial application phase. Consider your specific needs and accommodations. Some individuals choose to share during the interview stage, while others wait until they have received a job offer. Employ-Ability, a not for profit organisation who assist neurodivergent and disabled students, provide a FAQ page on their website for further guidance and other resources.
• Company Culture: Research the company's culture and policies regarding diversity and inclusion. Some companies actively promote a supportive and inclusive environment, which may make you more comfortable disclosing your disability.
• Accommodations: If you require specific accommodations to perform the essential functions of the job, you may need to disclose your disability earlier in the process to ensure that the necessary arrangements can be made.
• Self-Advocacy: If you believe that your disability will not impact your ability to perform the job, you may choose not to talk about it initially. Focus on your skills, qualifications, and experiences relevant to the position.
• Personal Comfort: Consider your personal comfort level and whether sharing your disability aligns with your values and preferences. It's important to feel confident and empowered in your decision.
• Relevant resources
  • Sharing your disability at work and adjustments with Change 100
  • Employment support

Career Planner on Prospects.ac.uk matches your skills, motivations and desires to a career that's could be of interest. To get even more from your results, exploring further, book an 'Advice and Guidance' appointment' with a member of the Careers Team via Careers Connect.

Our Employability Advisers will be able to provide you with written feedback for your application documents within 5 working days from when you submit your application to us. If you wish to speak to a member of the team regarding your application or any other recruitment stage, you can book a 15 minutes 'Application Advice' appointment with us on Careers Connect. 

 

It's normal and okay to not know what you will be doing once you graduate. You could identify your values to know what drives you; your strenths to know where you perform at your best. What do you enjoy? There are a number of ways to identify and develop interests, aiding direction and will help learning what you enjoy and perform well at. You'll also build transferable skills and capabilities. Casual or temporary jobs are a good way to gain experience while looking for something more permanent. Never underestimate any work experience you have gained already too. Continue to build on what you have. There are short courses or oneline/face to face short programmes available through organisations such as Uprising, Bright Network  Generation UK and Screen Skills. Further study could be an option. Identify what stopping you that could affect progression. Make an appointment with the relavant person/team. You could also talk through your options by booking an Advice and Guidance session with the careers team.

Recruitment Agencies
Due to their close connections with employers, recruitment agencies give graduates access to the latest available jobs. By signing up with one in your industry, this could help you get your foot in to the job area or company for you. There are four main types of recruitment agency: specialist, location-based, generalist and short-term vacancies. Some examples include Reed, Hays, Michael Page, Robert Half (generalist roles and most industries); Silicon Milk Roundabout, Huntress Group, Nolan (specialist). A good way to start, is to visit the websites of recruitment agencies with opportunities in the sectors you’re interested in. Create a shortlist of ones that you will approach (we suggest 4-5) to arrange an appointment and discuss vacancies.

Connect with a recruitment agency: Katie Bard specialise in the recruitment of office staff starting at graduate entry level. Based in Birmingham, their clients range from blue chip multinationals to small businesses, and the agency has a dedicated team helping finalists and graduates. For personalised support, you can call 0216 334 443 or email, asking for Verity or Alix.

Graduate internships
Internships aren’t only for students. In fact, they’re a great way to find out what you're interested in whilst gaining skills and experience that increase your chances of securing a graduate job with more seniority. Often stepping stones to specific fields of work, the value of internships and other work experience should not be underestimated. Interns typically benefit from extra support in the form of buddies, mentors and / or learning and development teams. From summer internships to year-long schemes, the key is to make the most of your time by taking advantage of development opportunities, networking with a range of people, and keeping an eye on upcoming vacancies.
You can find and apply to internships the same as any other roles. When using online job boards make sure to filter the job type, and in your applications make it clear when you will graduate. 

Some University of Birmingham experiences you can apply for now or in the coming months:

• B-Experienced internships are a mix of in-person, hybrid, and remote internships available exclusively to UoB students and graduates
• Careers Network run a range of internships throughout the year for students and graduates. Keep checking our website for availability, dates and eligibility criteria
• The University’s Graduate Management Trainee Scheme is exclusive to UoB graduates and aimed at ambitious individuals who want an entry point into higher education (HE) management and leadership. The two-year programme includes a rotation of placements across different areas of the University’s Professional Services complemented by a tailored training and mentoring from a senior University director
• Interested in gaining international experience? Your options explained

Ideally, a reference should be someone who knows you from a position of responsibility. Consider reaching out to any employers, team leaders, academics and tutors. If you've participated in an extra-curricular programme, staff will usually offer to provide a reference too. Approach staff/others who you feel would be well placed to comment upon your professionalism and work ethic. Do allways ensure however that you ask a refence for their permission before citing them. Check out on Job application support page for more informtaion.

Yes. Our Employability Advisers will be able to provide you with written feedback for your application documents within 5 working days from when you submit your application to us. 

Using LinkedIn is a great way to identify potential employers, search opportunities and grow your professional network, so it’s worth creating an account before you graduate. If you’re not sure where to start, check our quick guide to LinkedIn and the graduate's guide to creating the perfect LinkedIn profile. There are specialist online recruitment companies such SME Graduates. Online job-boards such as Indeed and CV Library are also useful sources. Approach SMEs with a speculative application, using sources such as UKSPA to research companies at science and technology parks; Yell.com to find local high street firms and agencies, e.g Law, Business Services, Marketing & Design. There's also your local Chambers of Commerce. Sometimes they run event for free, enabling professional networking. The B-Experienced Programme through Careers Network also offers a short 10 or 20 day learning experience within a charity or SME.

The graduate’s guide to creating the perfect LinkedIn profile

There are lots of things to consider when you're searching for a job in the UK. You may have questions about how to search for a job, what UK employers are looking for and what recruitment processes they use. 

The best way to learn the answers to these questions is by using our suite of online courses for international students. These courses go into lots of detail about finding work in the UK; more detail than we are able to cover in an appointment or single event. You can work through the courses at your own pace and if you don’t have time to do an entire course, just choose the topics that are most relevant to you.

Careers Network also run events to support international students.

Book an 'Interview Preparation Appointment' with a member of the Careers team on Careers Connect. 

Book an 'Advice and Guidance' Appointment with a member of the Careers team on Careers Connect to discuss your career options and ways in which you could gain experience to add to your CV. Research the skills and qualities that are sought after looking at job descriptions that interest you and think how can you develop the skills in alternative creative ways. Could it be through an existing student group or creating your own project? Could a mentor guide you? Volunteer or try approaching local organisations speculatively. Create Central provides contacts through its news, and offers training opportunities ( if you're interested in film, games, TV and content).

Other sites to build experience include Discover Creative Careers and Skills Screen focuses on e-learning for Screen careersto help you get your first break. 

You may wish to consider gaining additional experience in the professional area you are interested in. For instance, you could contact any relevant employers to see if they have any opportunities for you to work shadow/observe and pick up transferable skills by volunteering or running your own project. UK fee status students can set up their own business to earn a bit of money while they study.  You could also consider joining any relevant socities at the university or attending any sector related talks or events. However, what you choose to do, will depend on your chosen sector. For instance, if you are interested in becoming a journalist, it would be a good idea to write a breadth of articles that demonstrate your written ability. For more specific guidance, we would suggest booking  an 'Advice and Guidance' Appointment with a member of the Careers team on Careers Connect to discuss your options.

To discuss potential career options and alternatives, feel free to book an 'Advice and Guidance' Appointment with a member of the Careers team on Careers Connect.

Ensure that everything that you include in your applications demonstrates something that the employer has stated they are looking for in a candidate. For instance, relevant experiences, achievements or transferable skills. 

Not being successful with your applications can be for a variety of reasons. The most common reason that an application is rejected is that the candidate has not errectively tailored the content of their application to reflect the specific needs of the role they are applying for. Remember, all of the skills and experiences you include on your applications, including your CV, should relate to an aspect of the person specification and/or job description. If you are getting to the interview stage, are you aware of the STAR method? Had a go practising? It could be into your phone, to a friend, in front of a mirror or even on zoom, recording yoursel and assessing your response llike a recruiter and critiquing your body language, checking for enthuasism. Could you ask for feedback by way of an informal telephone call? Please visit Job application suppport page fore more infomation.

Take things one step at a time. One action will progress to another. Start with your purpose to know what will drive you. Remind yourself of why you are doing this. Perhaps to gain experience, earn money, prepare yourself for your future career and better yourself; gain awareness and be in more control. In reality it is more about discpline than motivation, so having focus will make it feel easier. If you need help with knowing where to start, and what to apply to, an simple way to help progression is browsing the jobs available at the moment, when you're relaxed, such as on Careers Connect, Indeed or on sites such as Rate my Placement. What sparks your interest beyond the job title?

Set yourself manageable daily and weekly goals, such as researching companies and signing up to their recruitment websites during your free periods. After deciding what types of opportunities you want to pursue, you need a CV that's ready to go. You can use our online resources and the help of our advisers to fine-tune your CV, learn how to tackle applications and get interview practice.

Relevant online resources:

• Job application suppport
• CV Checker

Book an 'Advice and Guidance' Appointment with a member of the Careers team on Careers Connect to discuss your options.

We know it can be hard to balance everything and we don't want you to struggle. There are lots of ways to stay in touch about careers events; you can set up email alerts on your Careers Connect account. Careers events can be on campus, but also online and some will be recorded so you can listen back at a time to suit you. But why not come and talk to us about about some steps you can take to help you? Don't forget to check out on our Graduate recruiter events too.

Internships, work experience programmes, on-campus employer challenges, part-time jobs, volunteering and extra-curricular activities such as being involved in a sports team or student society all are considered valuable by UK employers. All of these experiences help you develop 'soft skills' that are sought after by employers. 

To help you identify the types of skills that are sought after in your chosen career field, you can read job adverts (and their person specifications), and carry out research on a range of employers. This will help you to identify the type of work experience opportunities that will be most helpful for you to undertake. For more information complete our pathway called 'Find and Apply for Work Experience in the UK'.

We have a number of different mentoring schemes at the University, but the one that's open to all students is the Careers Network Mentoring Scheme. The scheme is mentee-led, can last for upto 12 month and is predominantly online, although mentors and mentees can meet in person where feasible. You simply register as a mentee on our online mentoring platform UoB Mentoring Connect, and we'll search our records to match you to a suitable mentor who can help with the things you'd like support with. Our team will be matching again from February, so register before late Feb to be in with the best chance of being matched. 

International work and study experiences are very valuable because of the professional and personal development they provide. Our international work experience page gives you more information on how to secure opportunities as a student. For a list of global opportunities, please visit the new Canvas resource Go Global Summer. Funding may also be available. More details are provided on the Funding Eligibility page of the Canvas resource and Turing.

Take a look at Student Circus which helps you explore opportunities in 30+ countries that value the global experience. 

Other resources:

• Prospects share some valuable tips and advice for working in several countries
• Many of the largely known online job boards (LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Monster) also have versions for other countries, which can be used to find opportunities in preferred regions
• Expatica provides a range of advice for moving abroad, including finding work, finance, housing and lifestyle

An undergraduate Placement Year is an opportunity to work for an external company for a year. The role is similar to a graduate-level position and is great experience to prepare you for your future. Prospects has some helpful information on placements, and top places to find opportunities are Careers Connect, Ratemyplacement, Targetjobs, Studentjob.

If a work placement is an integrated part of your degree and you want to discuss this with an adviser, you can contact your College's Placements Officer (on the 'Meet your careers team' page for your College, scroll down to 'Contact careers team via email'). Otherwise, you can book a 'Work Experience and Internship Advice' appointment on Careers Connect to speak with an Internship Officer.

Get as much experience as possible in your first year and the year in which you are preparing for the placement year. Remember that there are so many things that develop your skills, from being part of a student society to volunteering part-time.  Being able to express how your range of experiences have given you skills that can be transfered to different roles is key for your success in the recruitment process for placements.

WorkLink: part-time, casual work opportunities on campus

The University’s casual recruitment agency is dedicated to helping you find flexible, part-time work that can boost your employability, confidence and skills. WorkLink’s expert team are here to help you reach your potential with tailored support and guidance that complements the advice available from Careers Network. Browse current opportunities and set up job alerts to give yourself the chance to gain more work experience. Outside of University, demonstrate your capabilities by securing part time work off campus; volunteering or revealing your reponsibilities at home or in your community.  Go to the Searching for work experience page for specific links.

There is no single, comprehensive 'list' of careers that you can move into after a PhD or other research degree. The options are broad, and include things linked to your wider 'transferable' skills as well as things linked to your subject-specific knowledge and technical skills.

Spend some time thinking about what you want and what you've enjoyed so far, then do what you can to be curious and research options that might give you these things. Talk to PGR graduates about what they have done, either via people you know, or on LinkedIn.

We have developed a 'PGR Careers Beyond Academia' Canvas course to guide you through the process of working out what you want, how to explore options, how to decide between options, and how to apply and prepare for interviews beyond academia.

Feeling like your PhD is 'wasted' can mean many different things, so it's important to work out what this means to you personally.

However, many PGRs who move into jobs for which a PhD is not an essential requirement find that the skills, experience, and resilience they gained from their PhD are useful whatever they move into.

In some sectors, many employers and graduates also suggest that people with PhDs may be promoted more quickly than some of their non-PhD qualified counterparts.

See the link for an article looking at why employment in sectors beyond academia is by no means a 'failure' or a 'waste.'

The level of job you can apply for depends on a number of things, including how similar the activities, environment, working style, and 'mission' of the role/organisation are to what you have been doing in your PhD and your previous experience.

The greater these aspects differ from what you've done so far, the lower the level is likely to be at which you can enter a new sector or type of role. See the link for a useful article explaining how to work out what level of job might be most appropriate for you.

As the number of academic jobs has not matched the increase in the number of PhDs awarded, competition for academic jobs is high. Rather than 'passively' applying for any job that comes up, having a strategy (e.g.,being able to show how a role fits into your longer terms plans and how you can contribute to the project or department you are applying to are important).

We have put together a section on 'Building your Academic Profile' in our PGR Careers in Academia Canvas course to outline what you can do during your PhD to put yourself in a good position.

 

Identify the reasons why you would like to pursue a Masters: Is it your interest in the subject; is it a requirement for the jobs that you are interested in - some professions require a postgraduate degree; would it provide you with knowledge and skills to progress into a PhD? If the answer to these is 'yes' than considering a Masters is a possible choice for you. Explore this as an option by talking to a careers adviser in your college.

There are some courses and universities that accept a 2:2 degree. It is important to research what courses are available that interest you and which universities offer these courses. Make sure that you are pursuing further study because you are interested in the course/subject and that you would like to develop your knowledge and skills in the specialism further.

There are many funding resources that you can utilise to help support the cost of further study. If you're a UK student, you may be able to apply to the Postgraduate Loan to support both tuition and living expenses. If you're looking to continue studying at the University of Birmingham, there is an excellent funding database that allows you to identify support that you can access. 

In the UK, not only are many of our degrees hugely flexible in terms of the types of occupations graduates choose to pursue, but also many graduate roles do not require a specific degree discipline. 81% of organisations do not even specify what degree according to the Institute of Employers. Business and Professional Services, Law and Technology are just a few broad examples where employers will recruit graduates from all degree disciplines. To help you get started, you can use the Prospects Careers website, and the job profiles most commonly pursued by graduates from your discipline. Prospects also has a careers quiz. Our Careers Advisers and Consultants are always happy to have to discussion with you to help. 

A good place to start is to be proactive and find people that have been there before; getting a mentor or meeting graduates who were in a similar situation too. They will be able to share their top tips and help you to feel confident. Why not access some of the events that Careers run as part of Pathways to Careers? We can support you from finding work experience, to getting a mentor and networking with other students and graduates. 

It's nomal, and you won't be the only one feeling that way. First, take a look at our resources and have a read of other students' and graduates' stories to get some inspiration. Then, when you're ready, why not book an 'Advice and Guidance' appointment to chat to one of our advisers? You could have a go with the career quizes on Prospects and Bright Network and browse online  jobs boards to gage what interests you/what would you enjoy.Believe in yourself and think about what skills and attributes you already have gained through your studies; home activities; extra-curricular activties or even part time work. You're not starting at the beginning. You're building on what you already have. Insight into events, careers fairs and similar type activities run by Careers Network and organisations such as Bright Network can offer purposeful direction. 

To identify your strengths, there is a free online strengths tool. Answer the questions and an electronic  profile will be provided to you.

Our Mentoring programme connects you with industry professionals who volunteer their time to support you with achieving your career aspirations.

Have you ever heard the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know"? As much as we hate to admit it, there's often some truth to this statement, and that's why it's also important to network in as many other ways as possible. Whether you're in a formal or informal setting, networking can help you establish and nurture valuable relationships that benefit both parties. Not only can it help you connect with industry or academic contacts that can help advance your career, but it can also give you an insight into a company's culture and potential job openings. 

Start by identifiying where you are now and what careers might suit you:

• Profiling for Success has tools to help you decide what career options you would like to pursue).
• Use Prospects’ Career Planner Quiz to match your skills, motivations and strengths to opportunities and careers that are right for you
• Get insights into specific roles by exploring Prospects’ job profiles, which you can view by sector or alphabetically

Then, have a browse of our student / graduate support pages and read stories of others who have been in the same position as you.

Check out the Work in the West Midlands page, where you can learn about local employers, industries and opportunities.

For career opportunities within the legal sector in the West Midlands you can look at regionally focused websites such as wmjobs.co.uk and publiclawjobs.co.uk. Each firm with an office in the West Midlands region will also have jobs listed on their websites and you can identify the relevant West Midlands based firms through their website.

Summer internships take place during the summer vacation in a professional role within industry. They are usually 8-12 weeks duration. Formal internship programmes are targeted predominantly (though not exclusively) at penultimate year students and are also used to recruit to graduate training programmes. Internship deadlines can also be as early as October, but can be advertised all year round. They usually start in July. It is best to apply early in case places get filled before the deadline.

Have a look at our Searching for work experience opportunities page for some starting points.

The Birmingham Project is an intensive and exciting one-week challenge for first year undergraduate students that takes place on the Birmingham campus. This employer-endorsed programme offers you the unique opportunity to work in small groups with students, develop strong team working and enterprising skills, and give yourself distinctive and quality experiences to talk about in job or further study applications. 

The Masters Consultancy Challenge (MCC) gives Postgraduate Taught students the opportunity to work for an employer. You will work in interdisciplinary groups to solve a real-world business problem the employer is facing. The two week programme takes place in June, and also offers training on relevant skills such as teamwork, commercial awareness and pitching.

Anyone can get involved in volunteering projects at the Guild of Students on campus and you don't need to have had any previous experience. As well as helping you to try new things and meet new people, it's also a worthwhile way of having something that looks good on your CV. As well as 24 student led volunteering groups, there are also dedicated volunteering events and opportunities for you to get involved in.

For more information, visit the Prospects website on volunteering. You can also have a look at these websites:

• Do-it
• NCVO
• Reach Volunteering
• Volunteering Matters

You can also approach specific organisations direct, taking a speculative approach. For more information on speculative applications and preparation visit our page on Speculative application preparation.

Remote work experience is highly valued by employers. Not only does it provide a valuable insight into the world of work, it can develop your soft skills such as communication, team work and problem solving. Not traveling to a set work place saves time and money, encouraging additional flexibility in when, where and how you work.

Take a look at Forage's Virtual Experience Programmes.

Gradcracker is the UK's careers website for STEM students. It is where leading employers attract candidates for their degree apprenticeship, placement and graduate roles.

The majority of students find their work experience roles by making speculative applications. This involves researching the organisation you would like to work for, thinking about the type of work experience you would like to be involved in, and the skills and knowledge you can offer the company.

Prospects is a great careers website giving ideas of the types of job roles you could do with your degree. You can also answer questions about what you find interesting, rewarding and purposeful and be matched with job profiles you might find interesting.

Check out thousands of internship, work experience and graduate roles for students on our Careers Connect system. You can also book 1:1 appointments with an Internship Officer for further guidance and support.

The University of Birmingham works with local, national and international organisations from a wide range of sectors to create meaningful internship opportunities for students and graduates. The B-Experienced internship programme provides students with the opportunity to work part-time around their studies, gaining valuable work experience and developing professional working skills.

The Work Experience Team at the University have developed a work experience programme which offers the opportunity to work flexibiliy around your studies / commitments. The B-Experienced internship programme provides students with the opportunity to work part-time around their studies, gaining valuable work experience and developing professional working skills.