Career Studio
The Career Studio at UoG is a welcoming, student-led service providing individual career coaching and support for students and graduates.
Whether you’re a current student or a recent graduate looking to kick-start your career, we’ve got you covered.
Our Career Coaches are available both in person and online and can guide you to valuable resources, help you clarify your career goals, and provide practical advice on CVs and applications.
They are current UoG students who have been trained to help their fellow students and grads with a range of career queries, including:
- CV and cover letter advice
- Finding part-time work
- How to start volunteering
- Applying for graduate roles
- Finding placement opportunities
- Preparing for job interviews
- Exploring different career paths and options
Career Coaches are supported by a team of career experts who are available to support with more in-depth career guidance needs, such as considering changing careers or courses.
Your appointment
Here’s what you can expect from our Career Coaches during your appointment.
-
Your Career Coach will ask what you need help with and what activities you have already completed in relation to this. If you need help with a CV or application, please ensure you have a current copy to hand. Your Coach will likely ask you to email it to them at [email protected] so they can access it on their computer.
-
After understanding your goals and the actions you have taken so far, your Career Coach will discuss possible next steps with you. Be prepared to contribute your own ideas, as well as gain inspiration from your Career Coach.
-
By the end of your meeting, you should have at least one action to take that will bring you closer to your goal. This might be as simple as writing down your goal or something more specific. If you’re unsure what to do next, make sure you ask your Career Coach for clarification before you leave!
“The careers service here have a wealth of knowledge and advice. To all students, I would definitely say to start thinking about potential options sooner rather than later to utilise the resources at UoG.”
Amelia Whittle, History student
Gaining Professional Experience
Whether you’re seeking your first step into employment or looking for a graduate role, the Career Studio offers plenty of support. Below, we have outlined various routes to gaining professional experience, along with useful resources and links to help you start your search.
Work Experience
Gaining work experience is a great way to build skills and stand out to employers. From placements and volunteering to part-time roles, there are plenty of opportunities to gain hands-on experience in your chosen field.
Work experience can be short-term, unpaid, or paid, providing insight into a specific industry or job role. It typically lasts from a few days to a few weeks.
If you’re struggling to find work experience, consider volunteering. Find out more about volunteering.
Placements
Many companies offer structured placement programmes that provide hands-on experience in a particular field.
Placements usually last between 1 and 12 months, with summer placements typically running for 8 to 12 weeks. They offer practical industry experience, networking opportunities, and can sometimes lead to full-time job offers. While job boards and career fairs are great places to find opportunities, students can also search for placements on the student portal.
Graduate Schemes
Graduate schemes are formal training programmes designed for recent graduates, offering a structured career path within a company.
These schemes typically last between 1 and 3 years and provide in-depth training, rotations across different departments, and fast-track career progression. Most schemes lead to permanent roles.
Networking, reaching out to employers directly, and using online platforms like LinkedIn can also help you discover valuable career opportunities.
Deadlines
Graduate job and scheme deadlines vary depending on the employer and industry, so it’s crucial to stay ahead of key dates.
Many large companies, especially in finance, consulting and engineering, open applications as early as September, with deadlines typically between October and January for roles starting the following summer.
Some industries, such as media, healthcare and smaller businesses, may have later deadlines or recruit on a rolling basis, meaning positions fill up as applications come in.
To avoid missing out, research deadlines early, set reminders, and apply as soon as possible. Bright Network offers a deadline tracker for graduate jobs to keep an eye on upcoming deadlines.
Unitemps
Unitemps at University of Gloucestershire offers paid, flexible, temporary jobs both on campus and with employers across the region.
If you’re a student looking for work, or an employer with a vacancy to fill register with Unitemps.
How to find us
We’re open 11am – 3pm, Monday to Friday during term time, and you can drop-in and speak to a career coach during these hours at the following locations:
Alternatively you can make an appointment to chat in-person or on Microsoft Teams via the Student Futures Portal, and you can also contact us via our ‘Ask a Question’ channel.
The Student Futures Portal is a one-stop shop for exploring career guides, resources, job opportunities and career-boosting events. It’s available to all UoG students and graduates.
Useful Resources
Work Experience and placements
Graduate Schemes & Jobs
Students rated their Career Studio experience as 9.6 out of 10
*Based on a feedback survey, rated on a scale of 1 – 10. Total of 150 responses from 2022 to 2024.
; ?> "Visit the homepage"){kind=logo}