Being a student at this University is about so much more than getting your degree; it’s about being part of a community where you’ll be encouraged to make the most of your time here and be inspired to reach your potential, gaining the experiences and skills that will benefit you as you progress through your lifelong career journey.

The Careers and Employability team is here to help you to take your next steps towards your future goals. We’re on hand to help you from the moment you arrive and will support you long after you graduate, providing an inclusive and impartial service tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, with a variety of employability-enhancing experiences through the curriculum, employer contact, and advice and guidance.

There are lots of myths about what we do/don’t do and also lots of myths or uncertainty about graduate careers so let’s take a look at what we do and how we can support you.

Careers and Employability is here for everyone at any time – you don’t need to know what you want to do – many students don’t, and this doesn’t matter. Whether you have some ideas for your next steps or none at all, It’s our job to help you. And you don’t need to wait until you’re about to finish your course – you can start your engagement with us from the moment you arrive and our support for you doesn’t end after you graduate!

We don’t always talk about “careers” – we talk about next steps and making the most of your time at university. Thinking about a career after university can seem daunting, or you may be afraid of making a wrong decision and ending up in the wrong career. Well, we don’t like the word “wrong” and we don’t think that “choosing a career” is what you need to do. A career sounds like something you do forever, but all you need to focus on is what you’re going to do next. Graduate careers take off in all directions once you get your first role after university. You need to plan, but not worry about the long term.

We are committed to supporting all students – we love the diverse backgrounds and countries that our students come from and the courses you’re taking. From mature students who may have lots of work experience, to those with none, from those of you taking vocational subjects because you have a clear idea of where you are heading, to those of you choosing a subject because you love it – we’re here for all of you. Our Inspiring Futures programme is available to students from under-represented groups who may need additional support or access to activities. We were very proud to have won an award earlier this year for our commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

We don’t just offer information, advice and guidance – we have four teams in Careers and Employability, all committed to supporting you every step of the way:

Career Consultant Team

Our expert and professionally qualified Career Consultants provide expert, impartial and confidential guidance tailored to your individual needs. We don’t tell you what to do – we help you to make informed decisions and develop strategies and plans. We can help you with every step of recruitment processes and prepare you for moving from university into employment. There are daily appointments available to help you make decisions about your next steps or for feedback on your CV and applications. You may also see us in person or virtually delivering sessions in academic departments on a range of employability themes, useful for your skills and knowledge development.

Student Success Team

Lots of activities sit in this team. Our Information Point colleagues will be the first people you meet if you visit in person or if you contact us through CareerHub, our careers platform.

Our live and on-demand Careers Workshops help you develop the skills and knowledge graduate employers want. Check out the Events pages for upcoming sessions.

First year undergraduates can apply for a Peer Mentor, trained second year and third year students who can share their experiences of university life, signpost to useful University services, and discuss a range of topics. You can also apply to be a Peer Mentor – we’re always looking for more students to join us. Email peermentoring@chester.ac.uk.

Volunteering is a good way to get to know your local community, meet new people, and learn new skills. Careers & Employability support students to become volunteers and students can gain recognition for volunteering through UCV Awards.

The Venture Programme helps students and graduates to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections to start up a business, to enter self-employment or to build a freelance career.

The Chester Difference Award allows you to showcase your skills and experiences to future employers by giving you recognition for the skills you have demonstrated from all the extra-curricular activities you’ve undertaken during your time at university.

Employer Engagement

Our Employer Engagement team has links with local and national employers, as well as professional bodies, that allow you to network with employers at our events, in the curriculum and in the workplace. We provide you with a range of great opportunities to meet with employers looking to recruit our students and graduates and give insights into their career sector.

We can help you to find a part-time job that fits around your studies, helping you to gain skills and earn extra money. Our UniJob service enables you to apply for part-time jobs at the University, or you can use our CareerHub portal to find part-time work in the local area and elsewhere.

We run a paid Workplace Experiences programme which includes internships and projects for eligible students and graduates and advertise other work experience opportunities to help you gain the skills and experience needed for today’s job market.

We advertise a range of graduate vacancies with local and national employers through our CareerHub portal. When you’re ready to apply, we’ll help you through every stage of the selection process.

Directorate

This team supports all the work that happens in Careers and Employability. From finance to data we make sure that everything in the team runs smoothly, we evaluate everything we do to make sure you are involved in the decisions we make and the activities we run.

Where are we located?

We have a full-time office in Exton Park, and we are also available at our new University Centre Warrington sites at specific times. Our curriculum delivery can take place on any site, and we also visit Queen’s Park and University Centre Shrewsbury for one-to-one support. Many students still find it convenient to access us remotely and we are flexible in how we deliver our services to ensure you can get the support you want in the way that suits you best.

Further info

Don’t forget to follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news and events:

Instagram
Facebook
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What is the Student Ambassador scheme?

If you’ve heard of the Student Ambassador scheme but have more questions than answers, you’re in the right place. Becoming a Student Ambassador is rewarding, varied and – you might be pleased to hear – paid!

As a Student Ambassador, you represent and promote the University to prospective students showcasing all we have to offer here at Chester. By sharing your knowledge and own experience of life at Chester, you help the next cohort of students to apply to university as prepared as possible.

You can probably remember how choosing the right university can feel overwhelming. This is where Student Ambassadors really step in; by connecting with visitors and answering their queries, you can help make prospective students feel at ease and informed in their university decision making process.

The great thing about the scheme is that not only is it paid, it can also fit flexibly around your studies.

What does a Student Ambassador do?

The role of a Student Ambassador is varied – there’s so much you can get involved in! There are three core aspects: Events, Academic, and Digital.

The main events at the University are Open Days and Applicant Days and during these events Student Ambassadors can lead campus tours, signpost visitors, or provide guided tours of the accommodation options available. There are also smaller events such as campus tour days throughout the year and occasionally even the opportunity to travel to HE fairs across the country!

You could also be supporting academics at these events by acting as a course advocate and sharing your learning experience, taking part in presentations and talks or just generally chatting to prospective students. You can also get involved with our Unibuddy site, where you can answer questions from prospective students from across the world!

If you’re a social media whizz or a dab hand at writing, you can be involved in the digital side of things! From creating informative blogs to TikToks or even Instagram takeovers, there are tonnes of jobs to get involved with from our digital team!

What are the benefits of being a Student Ambassador?

University isn’t just about a degree – it’s about getting involved with new things and building your skills. Being a student ambassador is the perfect opportunity to focus on self-development and employability skills.

Here are some of the superb benefits the role offers:

• Earn while you learn: Getting paid for everything you do means you can have a bit of extra cash to put towards bills, food or social events!
• Work flexibly: Work up to 15 hours a week and choose the events you want to work at so they fit around your course deadlines – no stress!
• Boost your CV: Become instantly more employable by enhancing almost all of your key employability skills including team building, communication and time management. Future employers will see you as reliable and able to handle extra responsibilities on top of your already busy degree, setting you apart from other applicants.
• Skyrocket your confidence: Speaking to new people in small or large groups becomes so much less daunting and really improves your presentation skills. Stepping out of your comfort zone can really amp up your self-esteem.

How to get involved

If you’re eager to embark upon the Student Ambassador scheme and excited to make an impact on prospective students, we’d love to have you on board! Rest assured we provide training before you start so you feel confident and prepared in your new role.

Please note – recruitment for Student Ambassadors only takes place at certain points throughout the year. Keep an eye on CareerHub for the latest vacancies.