University of Manchester Careers Blog

Written by Victoria Geary, Careers Consultant (Widening Participation) at The Careers Service

What support is on offer?

The Careers Service is here to support you, whatever your degree programme, level or background, to take steps to plan for your future. Our events, workshops and one to one guidance sessions are open to everyone but some sessions are aimed towards students who might have had fewer chances so far to get career advice, work experience and networking opportunities. We want to encourage you to make the most all the support on offer.

Why should you engage?

We recognise that your family’s income, your postcode, school, experience of the care system, being estranged from family support or as a member of an underrepresented community at Manchester all come with their own challenges. You have overcome these challenges to enrol at the University of Manchester and that is something to be celebrated but we know it can be more difficult to access the opportunities that will help you to make a successful transition from university into work. Our support sessions will help you to:

• Make a realistic plan
• Get experience and learn how to navigate workplaces from how to ‘do’ small-talk to what to wear to an interview
• Think globally… this opens up opportunities you never knew existed
• Know your rights at work which are protected by the Equality Act 2010 (you cannot be discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment [affirmation], marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief or sex)
• Practice your job search, application and interview skills to increase your confidence
• Build a network of contacts and know how to use it to find opportunities

How? 3 ways to access our support…

1. Our new platform, CareerConnect has everything you need all in one place. Log in to find events, workshops, advice, AI tools for CV checking and interview practice as well as a booking site to make an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants.
2. If you are a student with a disability or mental health condition you can book a 60 minute appointment with a specialist Careers Consultant via CareerConnect.
3. Follow us on social media to find out everything we are doing: Facebook, Twitter and check out our YouTube channel for past online workshops.