What to expect
This is your appointment. You set the agenda, the pace, and are totally in control. You will also be doing most of the talking. Careers Consultants are here to facilitate your career choice and development, rather than lead it.
A Careers Consultant will try to make the picture clearer for you and help you to plan your next steps. You may not leave with all the answers – but you should be closer to finding them.
Please bring along a laptop or pen and paper to take notes as you may be directed towards resources for further research to help with your career planning.
A Careers Consultant may try to:
- Help draw out your priorities, motivations, values and expectations.
- Gently challenge your assumptions.
- Encourage you to reflect on what you have already done.
- Help you to develop your understanding of your chosen paths.
- Help you to weigh up your options.
- Make suggestions about potential resources, strategies, sectors or pathways.
- Provide answers to some straightforward questions.
A Careers Consultant cannot:
- Make a decision for you about which option/path to choose from.
- Tell you which jobs you will be suited to or what you will enjoy doing.
- Provide you with a list of employers that are recruiting.
- Tell you everything you will need to know about your chosen career.
- Tell you which employers will sponsor an international student
- Give visa advice. The International Student Support Team can provide information relating to visas and immigration.
- Tell you what to do.
If you aren't sure if we can help you, please contact Careers before booking. Our Information Team will be able to advise you on appointments and resources.
Meet the Careers Service Team
Each Faculty/School has dedicated Careers Consultant support. When you book a guidance appointment you will be offered one with the relevant Consultant for your course.
How to get the most out of your appointment
At peak times, particularly in October and November, you may not be able to get an immediate appointment or have multiple appointments. So, we want you to get the maximum benefit out of every appointment.
If you just don't know where to start thinking about your career, that's fine. A Careers Consultant can help you with this, especially if you are worrying about how and where to start. Just be aware that each appointment may only help you to move a few steps along.
If you are able and willing to do some preparation you will inevitably find yourself further along the process. The best way to start is by checking out our Careers Service website sections for students and graduates. These cover every stage of career planning and making effective applications. They are worth looking at before you book a guidance appointment, as you might find your question answered with a bit of research.
Even if you don’t know what you want to do, there is still some research you can do. Try searching our Career Research resources. You will find advice on your career options, information about different sectors and advice on how to do further research.
Even a small amount of research or reflection may help you to focus the discussion to get the advice that you need.