Who can use our service?

• All students currently attending the University of Huddersfield.
• All University of Huddersfield graduates for up to three years after leaving their course.
• Employers.
• All University of Huddersfield staff.
• Graduates from other universities (for up to three years after graduation) at the Services’ discretion.

What we offer

Advice and guidance

Opportunities for contact with careers staff will be provided at a variety of times during the week when the service is open. These opportunities are available to current students, recent graduates and staff of the University and also clients considering coming into Higher Education.

Read - Interview with Careers Adviser Debbie Laing, about the services offered at the University Campus Barnsley

Guidance appointments

• We offer 30 minute bookable guidance appointments, which are an opportunity for clients to discuss career planning, career management skills, applications and postgraduate study.
• Appointments are available across all three of the University campuses.
• Where necessary, clients are able to access guidance appointments via email or telephone.

Quick query sessions

• We offer quick query sessions to answer 5-10 minute career, CV and applications queries.
• Careers Express is the service’s outreach facility, offering quick query drop-in sessions in each of the academic Schools on a weekly basis, on Queensgate campus.

Information

Careers Information Library (CIL)

• The CIL holds relevant and appropriate careers information for all of our client groups and is reviewed, developed and maintained by a professionally qualified Careers Information Officer.
• Information is available in a range of formats on request to ensure equality of access for all our client groups.
• Information is updated on an ongoing basis, anything over two years old is labelled to indicate why it has been kept.
• Signage and layout of the CIL is designed to ensure equality of access for all clients.

Online services

• The Careers and Employability Service website holds relevant and appropriate careers information for all of our client groups and is reviewed, developed and maintained by a professionally qualified Careers Information Officer.
• The site has been designed to ensure equality of access for all of our client groups.
• The JobShop online vacancies database advertises part-time, vacation, placement and graduate opportunities.

Events

• Career events are provided throughout the academic year offering students and graduates opportunities to network with a wide range of employers from different sectors.
• Participation amongst current students of all year groups is encouraged to help them develop their industry contacts, build their labour market information, clarify their career choices and find work experience.
  
  Events page

Careers Education

• Bespoke careers education sessions are available to all courses and can be integrated into courses of study as appropriate via negotiation between the relevant Careers Adviser and course tutor.
• A Career Development Programme (CDP) is open to all students, offering workshops on a range of careers related issues.

Career Mentoring Network

Current students have the opportunity to be linked with a graduate career mentor, in a role or sector they wish to explore, to clarify career choices, research the jobs market and gain advice on entry into a given profession.

Career Mentoring Network

Services for Staff

• We offer a range of services aimed at supporting the development of student employability.
• The Careers and Employability Service offers a career management learning tool which is available via Blackboard and can be built into courses.
• Careers advice is available to University of Huddersfield staff on request.

What you can expect from the Careers and Employability Service

• Helpful and welcoming staff who are committed to a high level of customer service and their own ongoing professional development to ensure that they are well qualified to respond to your queries.
• Experienced and trained advisers working on your behalf to help you to:
  - Discuss careers ideas
  - Explore further study
  - Enhance PDP and employability skills
  - Gain help with CVs, applications and covering letters
  - Research employers and occupational areas
• Up to date information sources, including our website.

• Good links with employers to ensure informed and realistic advice.
• Regular careers updates by email, departmental notice boards, tutors and Blackboard.
• Staff committed to equality of opportunity.
• Commitment to improving accessibility to the service.
• Strict adherence to principles of confidentiality by all staff.
• Adherence to the Student Services complaints procedure 
• Impartiality

In addition we adhere to the following national codes and standards:

• Work to the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Code of Practice on Guidance.  This guarantees a service within the limits of our resources that is impartial, confidential, courteous and professional.
• Operate within the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Code of Practice for Careers Education, Information and Guidance.
• Work within the Guidance Council’s Code of Principles.
• Ensure that we maintain accreditation for the matrix quality standard and operate within the parameters set out by that standard. Principles for Coherent Information Advice and Guidance Delivery.

What we expect from you

• To keep any appointment booked with us, including group sessions unless unavoidable, in which case we expect notification prior to your appointment or session.
• To give feedback so that we are able to evaluate and improve our services to you.
• To give us as much relevant information as you can, so that we can answer your careers enquiry fully.
• Awareness that the process of choosing, changing or developing your career may take time – results are not always immediate.
• A personal commitment to work towards the goals that are defined.
• Prompt notification of any concern or dissatisfaction with our service.
• If applicable, to assist in our work by responding to the Destinations of Leavers of Higher Education survey.

Complaints procedure

If there is something you wish to complain about:

• In the first instance consult with the member of staff concerned.
• If you do not feel that your complaint has been dealt with satisfactorily, write a letter to the Careers and Employability Head of Service who will undertake an investigation of the issues raised.

We will:

• Acknowledge a complaint within 2 working days.
• Investigate the matter of concern and respond by letter within 10 working days of receiving it.
• If the complaint will take longer than 10 days to investigate, we will explain the reason for this and when you can expect our response.

All complaints are used as feedback to plan service improvements.

We welcome suggestions about the service we offer. Please address a member of staff if you have any suggestions to make.

Contact us