Careers
Source: https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/get-careers-advice/ Parent: https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/careers-support-for-international-students/
Get advice on your options from Careers. Learn what to expect when you talk to a Careers Consultant and how to get the most out of the conversation.
You will get more out of your time with a Careers Consultant if you prepare
Get help with your career
Come to Careers for help with your options, finding work experience, and taking those next steps after graduation.
Our Careers Consultants are available to talk, listen to your career concerns, advise and offer support.
Find out more about how to get careers advice
The purpose of careers advice
What happens when you speak to a Careers Consultant? Will your career path magically open up before you? Will everything become clear as a result?
We would love the answer to those questions to be ‘yes’! But a conversation with a Careers Consultant is part of a process where you begin to figure these things out for yourself.
We aim to help you clarify the issues most important to you, answer your questions and enable you to make progress at whatever stage you come to us.
Things you might want to ask
Consultants can help you with any career questions you may have. The following list is not exhaustive. But some of the questions we hear include:
- I don't know what I want to do. How do I decide?\
- I'm not sure which jobs are right for me. Can you help me explore my choices?\
- I want to change/leave my course. Will this be the right move in terms of my career plans?\
- I do/don't want to use my subject when I graduate. What are my options?
- I have a practical question about approaching an employer/interview/job offer. Can I talk this through with someone?
- I'm interested in further study, but will it be worthwhile?
What to expect from careers advice
This is your time. You set the agenda and 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 may challenge your statements. They will try to define your options and help you plan your next steps. You may not leave with all the answers – but you should be closer to finding them.
We can:
- Help draw out your priorities, values and expectations
- Gently challenge your motivations
- Encourage you to reflect on what you have done already
- 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
We cannot:
- Decide which option/path you should choose
- Tell you which jobs you will be suited to or what you will enjoy doing
- Tell you which employers are recruiting
- Tell you everything you will need to know about your chosen career
- Tell you which employers can recruit Tier 4 Visa holders or give visa advice
- Tell you what to do!
How to get the most out of your time with a Careers Consultant
If you 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.
If you are able and willing to do a little (or a lot!) of preparation, you will find yourself further along in the process. Even a small amount of research or reflection can help you focus the appointment on what you need.
The best way to prepare is by checking out our Get Started Guides on MyFuture. These cover every stage of career planning.
- Drop-in and other 1:1 support from Careers
- How to get help from Careers
- Get CV feedback and applications advice
- Your visit to the Careers Centre
Get support