University careers services

The majority of higher education institutions offer support to students relating to their careers and employability. This will be organised differently in different institutions, but the overall aim will be to ensure that students can confidently make the transition to the next step after their studies.

For example, Goldsmiths Careers Service, part of The Careers Group, University of London, provides the following services to students, as well as to graduates for up to three years after they graduate:

• One-to-one career guidance appointments
• One-to-one application advice (help with CVs, covering letters and applications
• Practice interviews (mock job interviews with feedback)
• Bespoke programmes within academic department
• Support with enterprise and entrepreneurship (including enterprise boot camps to develop relevant skills)
• Support with skills development
• The Gold Award, a personal and professional development award which helps students develop their skills
• Employer events: employer and alumni coming on to campus to share insights into their organisation and sector
• Work Placement modules on many programmes

Along with many other institutions, students graduating from Goldsmiths receive the HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report). Along with a student’s academic results, it also records additional activities the student has taken part in during their studies; yet more evidence of the skills they have developed.

You can also watch a short video about careers and employability support at Goldsmiths.

Whichever university you end up studying at, make sure you make contact with the careers service early in your time there. Find out what they offer, and how they can support you, to get you off to the best possible start.