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
- CVs and Cover Letters
- Application Help
- Assessment Centres
- Interview Preparation
- Professional Development
- Volunteering and Mentoring
- STEM-Up Skills Training
- Job Search and Networking
Opportunities
Additional Resources
- Undecided Career Path
- Disability & Wellbeing Support
- Money/Benefits
- Schemes for Unemployed
- Contact a Graduate Employability Adviser
Employment Preparation
Professional Development
Earn up to a Platinum Award to show prospective graduate employers that you have all the transferable skills, experience and confidence.
Volunteering and Mentoring
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.
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 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
Unitemps
Opportunities
Further Study & Postgraduates
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
Self-Employment / running a business
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?
Apprenticeships
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
Need more advice? Contact us below.
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