Helping students prepare for life after university is an important part of the student experience at Buckingham, and our Careers and Employability Service is here to support students from their first year through to graduation.

Our support includes:

• Exploring career and further study options
• Developing the professional skills and self-awareness that employer’s value
• Accessing employment, placements and work experience
• Preparing for success in a competitive graduate job market
• Providing paid micro-internships via the B-Enterprising scheme.

We typically offer a mix of both virtual and on-campus services throughout the year, giving students, employers and guest speakers the flexibility to engage remotely or in person.

If you have any questions about the service offered at the University of Buckingham, please feel free to contact careers@buckingham.ac.uk

Support Available

1-1 Appointment

For any question relating to Careers and Employability, students are welcome to book a 1-1 with our Careers Adviser, whether seeking feedback on your LinkedIn, a review of your CV, or want some support in considering what Careers might work for you the team are here to help.

Mock Interviews

Interviews are a feature of nearly every job application, while we cannot predict exactly the questions you’ll be asked, we can try to best prepare you for them. Students can book a 30-minute mock interview with our Careers Adviser who can explain the types of questions you might get asked and give feedback on the answers you provide. We can also give tips on online interviews, phone interviews, and pre-recorded interviews.

Workshops and Events

The Careers and Employability Service runs a range of events every term including ‘Pop-Ups’ around the University where students can drop in and chat to a member of the team, as well as bookable workshops such as ‘How to… write a CV and Cover Letters’ and ‘How to … Build an effective LinkedIn Profile.’ We also run ad-hoc events throughout the year including Networking Fairs with external organisations, and webinars.

MySkills

MySkills is an easy way for students to track their current skills and set goals for developing them. Through completing a MySkills assessment students can establish their areas of strength, and weakness. Thereafter meeting with our Careers Adviser to chart a path forward for continuing personal development.

Finding Work

The Careers and Employability is well equipped to support all students seeking employment, whether part-time during their studies, or graduate careers in the UK or overseas, we’re able to assist giving information, advice and guidance.

Information for Employers

Events and Activities: How to get involved

We are proud to connect with local, national and international organisations to help employers find fresh talent and to enrich the experience of our students.

You can get involved in:

• Student networking events
• Sector specific panel webinars
• Employer spotlight webinars
• On campus pop-ups
• Social media takeovers
• If you are interested in participating in any of these initiatives, or learning more about them, please contact careers@buckingham.ac.uk

We can also advertise your vacancies for free. This includes casual part-time work for students and full-time graduate employment. Please visit careers.buckingham.ac.uk, register with us to create an employer account and then post your vacancies.

Reasonable Adjustments: How to support applicants

It is worth noting that employers have a legal obligation to provide reasonable adjustments to individuals with a disability recognised in the Equality Act 2010. These are necessary when workplace arrangements or the lack of support place a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled colleagues. Often though, it can be difficult charting a path forward relating to reasonable adjustments. Below, we have a few helpful tips for how employers can best go about offering reasonable adjustments to applicants.

Before applying make it clear to applicants that reasonable adjustments are available and who applicants can contact to discuss these in confidence.

Ask if they have any accessibility needs for applying / interviewing. When doing so, offer suggestions, for example would an applicant appreciate the questions in advance where appropriate, or to have the interview in a more accessible location.

Naturally, people worry that raising a need for reasonable adjustments may affect their chances, to set applicants at ease employers can clearly state that this will not affect their chances and is there to support their application process

Lastly, it is also important to inform applicant that if they are successful, a discussion around reasonable adjustments can be offered before they start their role, as the unknown may also cause anxieties.

B-Enterprising Micro-Internships

B-Enterprising is a micro-internship scheme designed and run by the Careers and Employability Service. Our aim is to provide you with access to highly motivated students who will fulfil your short-term project needs, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to your business. In turn, you will be providing students with meaningful work experience. Projects will be undertaken on a part-time, flexible basis to fit around the student’s studies. For more information, see our Employer Handbook and contact b-enterprising@buckingham.ac.uk

Equality and Diversity in the workplace

Equality Act 2010: Your Rights

Reasonable Adjustments: Check out this helpful guide from SCOPE, relating to different types of reasonable adjustments, and how to discuss these with a prospective employer.

Information for our graduates and alumni

Did you know that you may still receive support from the Careers and Employability Service long after you have finished studying at The University of Buckingham?

All our alumni have free unlimited access to our online careers portal, Horizons. Simply select ‘Alumni sign in and registration’ to create your alumni account in order to:

• book an appointment with a careers adviser
• book onto careers events and webinars
• access our graduate jobs listings
• view articles and resources to support your career management and development.

Appointments with a careers adviser are 30 minutes long and may be held over the phone, by video call, or even in person if you are still local to Buckingham. Whether you are seeking employment and need support with applications, would like a mock interview, or want some coaching to help you consider your future career path, we would be happy to help.

If you need help accessing Horizons please contact us at careers@buckingham.ac.uk.