Metadata
Title
Where to start
Category
international
UUID
443ccff1a0e5495fb6e78e87e03b62cc
Source URL
https://student.sussex.ac.uk/careers/start
Parent URL
https://student.sussex.ac.uk/international/visas
Crawl Time
2026-03-20T04:24:30+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Where to start

Source: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/careers/start Parent: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/international/visas

Find support and guidance for every step in your career planning.

How we can help you plan for your future

Whether you’re not quite ready to think about your career yet, or have a career in mind but aren’t sure how to get there, we can support you.

Select the statement that applies to you

Try thinking about the stage you are at with your career planning by selecting the statement that applies most to you below.

Not everyone is ready to start thinking about careers. Perhaps you want to concentrate on your degree. Or perhaps thinking about what you want to do with the rest of your life is too overwhelming. However, it doesn't have to be like that. Take it one step at a time.\ \ First steps:

Next steps:

Knowing that you want to start thinking about your career is good. Now it's time to start exploring your options.

First steps:

Next steps:

You know what you'd like to do. Now it's time to find out more about it. Look at the entry routes, whether you need further training, what experience you need to build. Also, look at the wider sector, read job profiles, find out what it is like and how to get in. Remember, there may be different ways to reach your goal. And there may be other things you haven't thought of yet. Remain flexible.

First steps:

Next steps:

If you have something (or things) in mind, the next step is to try it out. Getting experience will help you decide if this is what you would like to do.

Some sectors will have defined routes you can take, others will be less clear. You might need to gain experience through volunteering or relevant part-time work. Look out for internship and placement opportunities, too.

Sometimes you might need to take a creative approach, and research and apply speculatively to employers. Talk to us about your plans and we can help you through the process.

First steps:

Next steps:

You know what you want to do. Now it's time to find the opportunities and start putting together quality applications.

Look for internships, placements or graduate opportunities in different sectors. The availability, and types of opportunity, will vary between sectors.

Some sectors have different entry routes. These might involve building experience through volunteering or taking entry-level opportunities. Also, working in smaller businesses (SMEs) or organisations can give you instant responsibility and a broader range of experience.

Remember, there might be more than one way to get where you want to be.

There will also be different application methods, from online applications (often followed by psychometric tests and assessment centres) to CVs/covering letters and speculative approaches.

First steps:

Next steps:

Dealing with rejections can be hard. It can leave you doubting yourself and your career choices. Here is some advice to help turn things around.

If you have been applying for opportunities, but have not been successful, try to think about the reasons why. If you are rejected at the application stage, it could be time to analyse your CV or application forms for clues. It might be that you are not selling yourself well enough, or that you do not yet have the skills or experience that the employer is looking for.

If you are getting to the interview stage, it means that employers think you are capable of doing the job, so it is a matter of improving your interview technique.

First steps:

Next steps:

For most postgraduate courses you need to apply to them directly, rather than through a central admissions system. For many courses there will be no application deadlines, either, although there may be some relating to scholarships or buraries. You will probably need to write a personal statement (possibly a CV, too) as part of your application. Think about how you will fund it, too.

For some vocational courses (e.g. law, teaching, psychology, medicine) you will apply through a central clearing house. There may be a deadline for these, and you can apply for multiple courses via one application.

First steps:

Next steps:

If you have an idea for a new product, service or something with a social impact, you can explore your options now. There are stories to inspire you, as well as events, funding you can apply for, and one-to-one support while you are a student at Sussex.

First steps:

Next steps:

You can also find out about the full range of support you can get, including funding opportunites, stories and inspiration. For more help and support contact entrepreneurship@sussex.ac.uk.

Further help and advice

If you need careers advice you can book an appointment with one of our careers consultants via CareerHub.

You can also contact a member of the Careers and Entrepreneurship team by:

You may also want to:

See more from careers