Where are you now?
Source: https://careers.ed.ac.uk/explore-your-options/where-are-you-now Parent: https://careers.ed.ac.uk/
It is common to feel confused and overwhelmed when thinking about your career. No matter what stage you are at, the Careers Service is here to help. Use the statements below to get started.
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I have no firm ideas yet, but I want to start thinking
- Watch this video to get practical tips for how to explore career options and make well informed decisions:
Getting started when you don't know what to do? (University of Edinburgh login required) - There are many ways you can start exploring career options. Make it manageable by breaking it down into small steps, beginning with the Understand yourself section:
Understand yourself - Use our industry and sector pages to find our about different career pathways available to you:
Finding out about different jobs and sectors - The Careers Compass can help you review what you've done, explore your options, plan next steps and chart progress along the way:
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I want to use my degree, but I don't know how
- Find out what's next with your degree. Your career choice can be closely related to your degree - but it doesn’t have to be!
Finding out what you can do with your degree - Listen to Edinburgh graduates talk about their post-graduation journeys and how they have used their degree's on the Multi Story Edinburgh podcast:
Multi Story Edinburgh podcast - You can also use the University of Edinburgh LinkedIn Alumni page to connect with Alumni and find out what they are up to post-graduation:
The University of Edinburgh: Alumni and Graduates | LinkedIn login required
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I have some ideas and I'm ready to start planning
- Use our Making and changing plans section to get started on planning the next steps in your career:
Making and changing plans - Use our industry and sector pages to find our about different career pathways available to you and how to gain experience:
Finding out about different jobs and sectors
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I know what I want to do but not sure how to get there
- To identify what your next steps could be, research your sectors of interest in more detail and discover what experience and skills are required for particular jobs and career areas:
Finding out about different jobs and sectors - Use the University of Edinburgh LinkedIn Alumni page to connect with alumni and find out what they are up to post-graduation and the experience they gained along the way:
The University of Edinburgh: Alumni and Graduates | LinkedIn login required - Attend events and talk to employers directly to find out what they are looking for and how you could gain this experience. Use the 'What's on' pages to find out about the different events the Careers Service offers:
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I have been unsuccessful with my applications, what can I do?
- We are sorry to hear that you have so far not been successful in your applications. There could be many different reasons for this - use the Careers Service resources to review your applications and identify potential areas for improvement:
CV and Application advice - Use CareerSet to get instant and personalised feedback on your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. As a student or recent graduate, you have full access to all of CareerSet’s features:
CareerSet for instant feedback - Once you have received feedback from CareerSet you are welcome to attend our drop-in session to talk through your applications or other careers advice in person or online. Our drop-in schedule can be viewed on MyCareerHub:
Drop-in schedule (University of Edinburgh login required)
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I've graduated and I'm not sure what's next
Graduates can use the Careers Service for two years after they graduate!
- Use the information and advice in the Graduates section to support you in your early career journey:
Graduates - Attend a drop-in or book an appointment with a Career Consultant to discuss your next steps:
Talk to us (University of Edinburgh login required) - Listen to Edinburgh graduates talk about their post-graduation journeys and how they have used their degree's on the Multi Story Edinburgh podcast:
Multi Story Edinburgh podcast - If you find yourself graduating and you're not sure what your next steps are or you didn't receive the grades you were hoping for, use our Making and changing plans section to plan your next steps:
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This article was published on 2025-07-29