Careers support - University of Staffordshire

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Careers support

From the moment you start at University, we're here to support you on your career path. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to gain valuable work experience, explore exciting placements and take up part-time jobs that fit round your studies.

As you prepare for graduation, we’ve got all the essentials covered. Help with CV writing, one-to-one coaching, employer events, jobs portals and a dedicated recruitment agency.

What’s more, the help doesn’t end when you complete your course. Through our Graduate Hub, you can have access to our Career Connect service for life.

Work placements

Every student is guaranteed an offer of a work placement or internship, either alongside or as part of their course.

Draw on our huge network of connections within the private and public sector or negotiate your own placement with the help of our expert advisors.

You’ll gain real-world experience to improve your employability and can also get an insight into your future career. It may even lead to a permanent role after graduating.

You can do your work experience locally, nationally or internationally with the help of our SU Global Connections team. The possibilities are endless.

The experience at Airbus was invaluable

My placement was a year with Airbus in Bavaria, Germany. I worked in the department that developed software for application in military aircraft. I really enjoyed my time there. I worked with some of the best in the business, and because it is an international company I worked with many people from across the globe. The experience was invaluable and was certainly my favourite year being a student.

James Cook

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Part-time work

On-campus work is ideal if you want to earn while you study. You can finish a lecture and arrive for work within minutes. Fancy becoming a Student Ambassador? Or why not get a job in one of the Students’ Union venues or shops?

We’re also within easy walking distance of the city centre. It’s where you can find lots of retail opportunities and bar work.

Unitemps

Unitemps is Staffordshire University’s own recruitment station. It’s geared to matching students and graduates with jobs.

At the click of a button, you can find job opportunities within the University and externally. We’ve got strong links with businesses across Stoke-on-Trent, North and South Staffordshire.

Perfect for improving your skillset or CV. And you’ll meet new people and earn an income to support your studies and social life too.

Visit Unitemps

Volunteering

Giving your time and skills to help others can also be beneficial for you. It’s a great way to improve your job prospects as you can add to your CV and get practical experience.

There are all sorts of voluntary roles available, including work with charities, schools, hospitals and wildlife groups. Give as much or as little time as you want.

And if you don’t have transport, why not try a virtual volunteering project? We can help put you in touch with voluntary work in North Staffordshire and beyond.

Preparing you for work

Give yourself the edge in the jobs market by taking a professionally relevant certificate alongside your main degree programme. Our dedicated SkillSite area is open to all students and provides short digital courses. They range from introductions to software through to advanced training in coding applications. Open doors with certification from the likes of CISCO, Amazon Web Services, Google and Microsoft.

Events

You’ll find many opportunities to display your course projects to a wider audience, including employers and the general public. Depending on what subject you study, you have could include the Art and Desgin Degree Show, GradEX exhibition or various external shows where we offer event space for our students.

You’ll have numerous opportunities to attend careers fairs through our Connected Futures programmes. These on-campus events see employers come together to showcase the jobs on offer once you graduate. You’ll also get a golden opportunity to connect with a variety of industry players.

Careers

Our Student and Graduate Employability team is here all-year round to help you make the most of your university experience. You can use the MyCareer jobs and appointment portal to look for 1,000-plus job opportunities, book on to a careers event, chat or make an appointment.

Career Connect

Your essential hub for information, advice and guidance on careers. From our award-winning peer-to-peer coaches to career experts dedicated to your success.

Career Connect offers:

one-to-one career coaching, including support tailored to your course and developed with academic and career specialists
enterprise and self-employment support for those interested in freelancing and launching a start-up
coaching on interview techniques, CV writing and job applications
employer events and the Career Connect Portal, where you can search for jobs, access e-learning, sign up to events and book appointments
placements in the UK and abroad

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We are here to guide every student and support them through their employability journey.

Jane Pearce

Career Advisor

Mentoring

We offer mentoring through a variety of schemes, including professional mentoring where you will be matched with a graduate mentor to help you secure that dream job. You can contact the mentoring team on mentoring@staffs.ac.uk

You can register on our mentoring portal to be a mentor or mentee.

Visit our Mentor Portal

Preparing for University

College, Sixth Form and further education students that have accepted an offer can be mentored by a current student. Giving students the opportunity to be supported through their summer transition period before their first year at university, learn about the campus, get the most out of university life, and meet new people. Helping with retention and students feeling connected to the university community and increasing their resilience and self-organisation. Mentors build interpersonal and employability skills.

University life

Second year and above students’ mentor first year students, giving them the opportunity to be supported in a time of change. Mentees can ask questions about how to make to most of university life from campus related questions to how to make friends and get involved in university events. Helping with retention and students feeling connected to the university community and increasing their resilience and self-organisation. Mentors build interpersonal and employability skills. Mentors build interpersonal and employability skills.

Placement support - Nursing, ODP and Paramedic Science

Second year and above students’ mentor first year student, giving them the opportunity to be supported during their placement. This currently takes place within Nursing and Paramedic placements, due to the need for support whilst out on placement. Supports student experience, helping student to be self-organised and to feel connected to the university.

Professional

Industry expert mentors from all industries are available to mentor second year and above students. Guiding mentees in taking the next steps of their career, finding out about the world of work, and developing important contacts and networks. Helping self-organisation, raising aspirations and social capital. Mentors connect with the university and the next generation of talent as well as honing their own leadership and managerial skills.

Graduate Hub

All the assistance you need after you graduate. Tap into online support from our Career Connect service for life.

Our Graduate Employability team also offers 18-month intensive provision after university to help you achieve your career goals. You’ll have access to:

a career coach
bespoke one-to-one support
bootcamps
career workshops
the latest graduate vacancies, especially sourced for you.

Staffordshire EDGE

Staffordshire EDGE is a sector leading events programme that offers you the opportunity to develop multiple skill sets as well as knowledge and experience in civic engagement and sustainability. Earn 50 points for a Bronze Award, 100 for a Silver, 150 for a Gold and 200 for a Platinum. Points mean prizes so as well as receiving certificates for achieving different awards, the three students with the most points at the end of July will win a share of a £2000 prize fund.

You can complete activities across eight themes or concentrate on one; the choice is yours!

Staffordshire EDGE themes:

Careers Essentials Skills Award
Academic Skills Award
Digital Skills Award
Professional Skills Award

Well-being & Life Skills Award
Innovation, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
Civic Engagement Award
Sustainability Award

Find out more about Staffordshire EDGE

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