Careers advice that works for you
From the moment you enrol at University Centre Rotherham right up until graduation, you’ll have access to our Careers and Employability Hub to help you achieve your career goals.
Whether you’re continuing your education at 18 or a mature learner, finding your feet or seeking a new career, you can get free advice and careers coaching right here on campus.
Our careers service at University Centre Rotherham offers year-round support to help our higher education students plan their next steps for after they graduate.
It doesn’t matter what course you’re studying, whether that’s animal management, engineering, or a PGCE, or what dream job you have in mind. Our careers service can explore potential career pathways, increase your confidence in interviews, and open up opportunities for work experience in your chosen industry.
Futures for everyone
Most people come to University Centre Rotherham to improve their job prospects and salary expectations.
Studying a degree or higher education qualification with us will give you the edge in the current job market, thanks to our vocational-based curriculum that equips learners with the relevant skills and knowledge for their chosen industry.
But we’re also committed to ensuring every student has access to personalised and impartial careers advice. Plus, we’ve developed excellent employer links and a new skills for employment programme to ensure all our students leave University Centre Rotherham with the skills employers are looking for.
Our careers service is underpinned by both the DfE’s Matrix standard and Gatsby benchmark, holding us accountable to providing a high standard of careers advice and employability opportunities to all.
What can you expect from our Career and Employability Hub?
One-to-one support in the Careers Lounge
The careers lounge is open throughout the academic year, based just off reception in the University Centre Rotherham. You can book an appointment with a careers advisor or drop in and speak to the team.
Our careers advisors can:
- Look at what skills you already have and the skills you need to develop to achieve your goals
- Help you identify careers that will suit you, explore alternative career paths, and develop a career plan
- Provide feedback on your CV and cover letter and advise how to adapt them for your chosen industry
- Show you how to search for jobs and what to include in an application
- Arrange a mock interview or help you prepare for a face-to-face or online interview
- Share ideas about how to network or use platforms like LinkedIn
- Help you source a work placement or internship at a relevant company
Careers advice covers all the essentials and is tailored to your individual needs and career goals. To book an appointment, call 01709 513355 or email careerslounge@rotherham.ac.uk.
Online resources
As well as the career lounge, you’ll have 24/7 access to a wide range of online resources to support your career development.
There is information about the labour market, types of careers in each industry, and post-graduate study options. These can be found on Google Site and in the library.
Workshops and events
As part of the curriculum, we offer a range of activities throughout the academic year via our Careers Development Programme.
These events help our students develop transferable skills and learn more about the world of work.
You can take part in:
- Careers workshops
- Work experience and site visits
- Guest lectures and mentoring from employers
- Recruitment and job fairs
- Business development sessions for entrepreneurs
Links with employers and businesses
Draw on our huge network of connections within the private and public sector for meaningful work placement opportunities. You’ll gain real-world experience to improve your employability and can also get an insight into your future career. It may even lead to a permanent role after graduating.
We have well-established links with many regional employers including the NHS, Esh Construction, Equans, Premier Foods, AESSEAL, Rotherham Council, Open Minds Theatre Company, Rotherham Titans Rugby, and Rotherham Music.
As well as apprenticeships and work placements, some of our partner organisations run employer academies here at University Centre Rotherham. This means they have helped us devise a curriculum that develops practical skills and experience that they want, and need, from their employees.
New programme to power up your skills for employment
Skills for Employment is a new initiative where learners will prove they have the power skills needed for employment. These are ten transferrable skills that complement those developed in the classroom and include:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Leadership, adaptability and flexibility
- Problem solving
- Proactive and shows initiative
- Resilient
- Self-management, hardworking and reliable
- Time management
If you take part, you will need to demonstrate you have understood and developed these skills by showcasing three examples of each. Once complete, you’ll be presented with a digital certificate, demonstrating you’d be an incredible asset to local, regional and national employers.
What about mature students?
As a mature student you may feel that your career concerns differ to the rest of the student community, especially if you’ve returned to education to retrain or enhance or your career.
You’ve probably got a clearer picture of where you want your career to go. And you’ll have built additional life experiences, greater maturity and confidence, all of which can be a great asset when you are looking for work.
But you still might need help to get there. Has it been years since you last updated your CV or went for an interview? Do you think work experience is just for younger people?
At University Centre Rotherham, we have a dedicated careers service for adult learners – or anyone over the age of 21. Our welcoming and trained staff give impartial and confidential careers guidance that’s always focused on you.
Give us a call on 01709 513355 or email careerslounge@rotherham.ac.uk to speak to our team.