Student Careers and Skills Service

Student Careers and Skills is an integrated service of 60+ staff that provides everything students need to develop their skills and plan for their future from induction to three years beyond graduation.

We have two student help desks on campus, where staff can provide resources and information, and help you access a wide range of opportunities such as workshops, one-to-one careers guidance sessions, etc. Our responsive staff can answer your queries face-to-face, by email or on the phone.

Skills Programme

Skills development opportunities offered by Student Careers and Skills support your academic and career success by providing workshops, one-to-one sessions, networking events and resources and information you can access remotely, 24/7. Our staff recognise that studying for a postgraduate qualification is an investment in your future, and support you to make the most of your time here at Warwick.

Research students: The Research Student Skills Programme aims to equip you with the necessary skills to successfully complete your postgraduate research and prepare you for employment.

We recognise that training is most effective when planned to address your needs at each stage of your research, and Warwick’s online Professional Researcher Development tool enables you to do this easily. The Skills Programme offers diverse opportunities, including workshops on academic writing, research methodologies and personal and professional skills. We also host annual poster and e-portfolio competitions to present your research and organise employer and alumni-led events to familiarise researchers with the academic and non-academic job market.

Careers Guidance

Our team of professional, experienced careers consultants work closely with postgraduate students to support your career development and draw on a rich occupational knowledge and industry links to provide accurate, informed and impartial information, advice and guidance. Careers consultants can help you explore career options and identify the steps needed to realise your career aspirations, through access to one-to-one consultations, tailored workshops and skills sessions.

Contacts with Employers and the Local Community

Student Careers and Skills has extensive contacts with employers, with over 300 employers having an active presence on campus. This ranges from careers fairs and presentations to delivering guest lectures and involvement in projects.

We have the largest student-led volunteering organisation in the UK, with over 2,000 students actively involved with 50 projects in the local community. Warwick Volunteers has many positive benefits for students as well as the organisations they work with, including enhanced CVs, improved career choices, and personal development. Around 45% of our volunteers are international students, and many report that volunteering has connected them very effectively with the local community and UK culture.

Warwick Volunteers has involved research students in delivering multi-disciplinary themed modules for children aged 7-14 based on their areas of research. Led by a researcher, this programme supported the volunteers in meeting the requirements of the Researcher Development Framework, in particular in areas relating to communication, dissemination, public engagement and impact.

Employment Prospects

You may have completed a vocational course that will advance your career prospects in a certain sector or have opted for postgraduate study to acquire high level technical or academic skills. Whatever your motivation for further study, as a Warwick postgraduate you offer an impressive portfolio of skills and knowledge valued by employers.

A Warwick postgraduate qualification provides a good springboard for career progression reflected by the high employment rate of Warwick postgraduates. The most recent figures (2009 graduates) for taught postgraduate destinations show that 86% are in work, further study or combining work and study. Comparable figures for research students are 92% in work, further study or combining both. This is due to both the academic rigour of our postgraduate degrees, and the emphasis placed on skills development, both of which enhance student employability. Warwick postgraduates enter a range of careers in sectors as diverse as academia, R&D, manufacturing, finance, education, not-for-profit and the creative industries.

From the start of your time at Warwick you will be encouraged to take responsibility for developing the skills and attributes demanded by today’s employers; we know that in today’s competitive job market you will need to do all you can to stand out from the crowd. We aim to help all students to pursue their global career interests and provide specialist resources and tailored information on exploring the UK and overseas job markets.

See also

Student Careers and Skills Centre

Graduate destination information

Research Student Skills Programme

Jobs.ac.uk

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