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Welcome to the BCU Graduate Resources Toolkit Tools to help you find employment and more...

As a BCU Graduate, you can continue to access careers support for at least three years after you graduate and engage in a range of other graduate employment and training initiatives.

You can make an appointment below using your student BCU email address. From September 2021 we will ask you to use your personal email address to set up a graduate account.

We offer regular online graduate events to help you with your employment search and LinkedIn networking, CV & cover letters and interview preparation, as well as giving you the chance to come along to our 'Meet the Employer' events where organisations are wishing to recruit graduates like you.

If you are not available to come along to our graduate events, check out our Careers+ On Demand videos of recent graduate events.

We recommend you keep your BCU student email address active as it will allow you to access free software packages which can be helpful as a graduate for 18 months. Packages include LinkedIn Learning, Adobe Suite (ADM), Office365, Graduate+ and Togetherall for example.

The Graduate Outcomes survey is the biggest annual social survey in the UK asking what you are doing 15 months after you graduate, you might have continued into further study, started graduate employment or freelancing, set up your business or something else entirely! As the biggest UK annual social survey, the collective graduate voice is powerful and will directly impact the future of education for prospective students.

If there is anything you would like to see included in the guide, let us know! - Careers+ Graduate Employment Team

Table of Contents

Employment Preparation

Opportunities

Additional Resources

Employment Preparation

CV and cover letters

CV360: Virtual CV checker
Target Jobs: CV/Cover Letter Templates & resources
Graduate+ E-Learning: videos and articles aimed at helping you with your CV, cover letters and more
Indeed: 6 Universal Rules for Writing Your CV

Application Help

Practice tests often used by Civil Service Jobs
Aptitude practice tests
The British Psychological Society: Psychometric test advice and tips
Numerical, verbal and critical test practice
Free online courses and skill refreshers

Assessment Centres

Assessment centre and other test practice
Graduate+ Assessment Centre Tool
Target Jobs assessment centre advice
Virtual Assessment Centres: Everything You Need to Know to Prepare
The Assessment Centre Survival Kit

Interview Preparation

Various interview tips and guidance
Glassdoor: Preparing for an interview resources
Researching Graduate Employers Checklist
Interview 360: Practice a video interview

Professional Development

Learn Digital with Google: Free online courses & development of digital skills
What is Graduate+?

Earn up to a Platinum Award to show prospective graduate employers that you have all the transferable skills, experience and confidence.

Office for Students: Graduate Employment and Skills Guide
Virtual internships

Volunteering and Mentoring

BCU Volunteering

Volunteering involves offering your time (on an unpaid basis) to take part in an activity which benefits people (individuals or groups) an organisation, or the environment. Many students and recent graduates see volunteering as an enjoyable way to gain valuable work experience and develop their personal and professional skills.

BCU Professional Mentoring

Birmingham City University's Professional Mentoring programme links graduates from across the University with working professionals, many of them BCU alumni. Many of our mentors are employed by some of the UK’s most successful businesses and could help unlock the door to your future career. With mentors from a wide range of sectors, including finance, law, education, business, IT and the creative services, we aim to match you with someone who can give you that all important industry insight. The programmes run for ten weeks, and once matched, there will be a minimum of five hours of 1-2-1 sessions between mentor and mentee.

If you are interested in being matched to a mentor please email mentoring@bcu.ac.uk for more information.

STEM-Up Skills Training

STEM-Up is part-funded by the European Social Fund.

STEM-Up gives you access to free taster skills webinars and workshops, focusing on STEM, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and soft skills. The project has been designed to support graduates to assess the gaps in their skills and find the right training courses to meet those needs.

Early Years Career Progression Pathways (EYCPP)

Job Search & Networking

GradJobs
Milkround: Graduate Jobs
Prospects Graduate Schemes
Target Jobs Graduate Schemes
Placement, jobs and opportunities
Walsall Works Jobs
Clarion Futures: Jobs & Training
Think Sandwell

Unitemps

trac.jobs (jobs in healthcare)

Opportunities

Further Study & Postgraduates

Further Study Options: Postgraduate Courses

As a BCU Post-graduate, you can continue to access careers support for at least three years after you graduate and engage in a range of other graduate employment and training initiatives from your linked Careers Consultant:

  • ADM - ADMCareers@bcu.ac.uk
  • BLSS - BLSSCareers@bcu.ac.uk
  • CEBE - CEBECareers@bcu.ac.uk
  • HELS - HELScareers@bcu.ac.uk
PhD Study

Self-Employment / running a business

BSEEN at BCU

Do you want to be your own boss? Do you have the ambition to be the founder of a successful company? We can help turn your business idea into reality!

You could set up your own company at any time, including for your placement year or when you graduate. All you need is a viable idea and the commitment to make it succeed.

BSEEN has supported over 250 students and graduates to set up over 200 businesses in the last three years! Could your business be next?

STEAMhouse Business Incubator

Apprenticeships

Find an Apprenticeship

Kickstart

Aged 18-24 and claiming Universal Credit? You are eligible for Kickstart opportunities.

The Kickstart Scheme is a 6 month paid job with a local employer, funded by the Government. It provides a fully funded opportunity for young people to gain experience of working in some of Britain’s most exciting companies.

Additional Resources

Undecided career path

Prospects Career Planner
Exploring Options

Disability & Wellbeing support

Togetherall: Online mental health and wellbeing service
The Waiting Room: A collection of mental health support services in the Birmingham area
Headspace: Daily mindfulness and meditation exercises
Birmingham MIND

Money / Benefits

Universal Credit Information
Citizens Advice: Money and legal advice

Schemes for Unemployed

Suited For Success: Free interview clothing hire
ONE/SECOND/SUIT: Free 24h suit hire

Need more advice? Contact us below.

Credits:

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