1. Understanding your Career Readiness - what that means and how you can use it to plan your next steps

2. The importance of self-awareness

3. The wide range of options for graduates

4. How to research them further

5. What employers typically require

6. Where to search for opportunities

7. How to make a decision and plan your next steps

8. Resources and support for making applications

9. Support available to you after graduation

You are also asked what your most recent work experience has been.

This helps us to understand what support you might need BUT we also hope it empowers you to think about this too.

TIP: you will also be asked these questions at graduation

• Employed in a wide range of sectors and roles across the workforce, from financial services to education, social work, the media and creative industries, and possess skills which open up a wide range of options, across the private, public and third sectors.

• Able to move between careers over their working life, using their generic skills to adapt to different industries and become successful leaders and managers.

• Your insights, as a Humanities & Social Sciences graduate, equip you to tackle the challenges the world is facing – climate change, global pandemics, the growth of populism as much as graduates from science, technology and engineering subjects.

  
  

Learn more about the value of your HaSS degree to employers

Subject benchmark statements will help you to communicate your subject knowledge and the skills you have developed (ie what you know and what you are able to do).

They provide insights into how your degree has developed the following knowledge and skills:

• subject-specific skills

• generic skills

• equality, diversity and inclusion

• sustainability

• entrepreneurship and enterprise

Being able to clearly communicate your skills, strengths and experience will help you stand out in a recruitment process.

SOURCE: ISE Development Survey 2024, pages 30-35

• Not all employers place more value on a postgraduate qualification; this will depend on the career, and the employer, so it is important to do your research and make an informed decision

• However there are some roles that require a postgraduate qualification

If you wish to discuss your decision with a Careers Consultant you are welcome to book a guidance appointment.

Further resources:

• FAQS about Masters degrees

• Careers Service information about postgraduate study

• The Undergraduate Careers Module has a section you can work through in PLAN: Thinking of Further Study. NOTE: you will lose access to MyPlace when you graduate

• We run an information session about Postgraduate Study Options, advertised via the Careers Events calendar

  
  

• Explore resources available to help you succeed in your chosen path

• Want to speak to someone? Our Entrepreneurship & Employability Lead runs a weekly start-up drop in and offers one to one appointments

TIP: the Careers & Employability Service has sector-specific resources that will help you take your career research further.

These include links to sector-specific job sites and industry resources.

• You will need a LinkedIn profile to do this

• If you are new to LinkedIn, or want to learn more about how to use it you may find our Get Started with LinkedIn course helpful

You may also find HaSS case studies inspiring.

• UK employers value experience gained from a wide range of experiences

• They require evidence, from your experience, to demonstrate the skills they are looking for

• Employers do not expect graduates to have all the workplace skills they need at entry point

This will help you to make an informed decision about your next steps.

• Enrol on the Undergraduate Careers Module

  and work through EXPLORE I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself. NOTE: you will lose access to MyPlace after graduation

• As a graduate you will, instead, be able to access My Graduate Career. Work through the Self-awareness section (log in via Alumni option and access course via toolbar at top of the screen)

• OR Explore the Benchmark Statement for your subject/s and do some of the career assessments in the Careers Toolkit

Step 2: Knowing what's available

• We have covered this in section 3 and 4!

Step 3: Decision making

• Through engaging in self-reflection you will be more clear about: your interests, skills, strengths (things you are good at and enjoy), personal values, motivators

• Through exploring a range of options you will have an understanding of what is possible

• This empowers you to make an informed decision about what to do next (it can be helpful to remember that the decision you are making is about what you will do next , not for the rest of your life!

• It may be helpful to set a goal and identify the steps you need to take to make it happen

• If you would like support you are welcome to book a guidance appointment

  
  

Step 4: Taking action

• Practical next steps, whatever these may be!

• This may involve accessing resources and support which is covered throughout this session

• It may also involve seeking, and acting on, feedback if applications are unsuccessful and asking for help

• Ensure you read all the information they provide, which may include video case studies of recent graduates speaking about their experience.

• Read the About Us section of their website and any information they provide about their Values.

• Practice for pre-screening tests such as psychometric tests as appropriate.

• Google yourself and check that all of your results are work appropriate and make any non-professional Social Media private.

• Update your CV, Linkedin profile and any professional websites. Make sure they reflect each other and are tailored to the skills, experience and qualities required for the job(s)

• Spend time on applications, make sure they are tailored to each job and company you apply to.

• Proof read everything you include in a job application.

• Submit applications well in advance of the advertised deadline if that is at all possible.

• Do not stop searching/applying while you wait to hear back from an application!

• Careers and Employability Service resources for every stage of the application process

• Through appointments we offer one to one support that includes CV and application checking, practice interviews and confidential discussions regarding adjustments in the recruitment process (book a guidance appointment)

• Applying with a disability? MyPlus Students’ Club provides students with disabilities with the advice and support they need to navigate the recruitment process and achieve their career potential. Register for free with MyPlus Students’ Club for advice on openness, requesting adjustments and access to many more resources

• Equality & diversity resources and support, including recordings of some of the Careers and Employability Service events that have a specific focus on Equality and Diversity