Employability

Get connected, learn and develop, with the support of the Careers and Employability Team, and make the most of your time at university and beyond.

Careers and Employability are a friendly and welcoming team, here to help you make the most of your time at university and beyond!

Whether you’re a first-year student or a graduate, whether you have a clear career path in mind or not, Careers and Employability is here to help you.

Career Conversations

Want to talk about your career?

Whether you’re a current student or a graduate, our friendly and professionally qualified Career Consultants are here to help you explore and develop a career idea, discover what’s important to you, and work out your next steps. Whether you've a career path in mind, or you’re looking to explore your options, we’re here to help you. We offer advice and guidance on a number of topics including CVs, applications, interviews, further study, entrepreneurship (starting a business or freelancing) and much more! 

A member of the Careers and Employability team is here to welcome you, listen to you and help you to make the right choices. A range of in-person and remote appointments are available daily (Monday-Friday) and we’re also available to answer your questions at Drop-In Clinics throughout the year. Find out more, ask a question or book an appointment via CareerHub.

Engage with our Employers

We are proud to work with over 500 local, regional and national employers, across a range of sectors, and you can meet, chat, explore and connect with them in a variety of ways:

  • Employers in the Curriculum
  • Employer in the Foyer Events
  • Employer Insights
  • Get a Graduate Job Scheme
  • Vacancy Advertising
  • Workplace Experiences

Current students can find out more on CareerHub and can view some of the Employers We Work With.

Employability initiatives

Be your own boss – interested in starting your own business, self employment or freelancing?

The Venture Programme will help you to develop the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections for your business journey. So, if you’re looking to enhance your enterprise skills, start up your own business or pursue a freelancing career, the Venture Programme will challenge your thinking, expose you to the business world and give you the opportunity to make something happen for yourself.
Venture events are open to all University of Chester and graduates – within two years of graduating – and you can gain recognition for taking part in Venture activities through the Chester Difference Award.

Current students and graduates can access more information in CareerHub.

What is Inspiring Futures?

The University of Chester has an Access and Participation Plan in place which sets out our commitment to the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England, to provide under-represented groups with equal opportunities to access, succeed and progress from higher education, by eliminating inequalities and therefore achieving successful and rewarding careers.

Inspiring Futures is an exclusive programme of support. This is available to current undergraduate, home-fee paying students from under-represented groups. Inspiring Futures has been established to address the particular needs of these students, supporting them to achieve lifelong success.

Are you eligible?

To be eligible to apply for careers related activities and support through Inspiring Futures, you must meet one of the following criteria:

If you are unsure if meet the eligibility criteria above, the Inspiring Futures team will check this upon application to the programme.

What’s involved?

Eligible students will get tailored and targeted support and information about support and opportunities available from the University and external sources.

Our current offer includes:

Workplace Experiences

Workplace Experiences are paid opportunities to help you become more employable. Ranging from Scholarship Placements to Internships, our opportunities will shape your CV and help you to stand out in the crowd. You’ll gain valuable, graduate-level work experience with a host employer, on a schedule to fit around your studies. For a typical Workplace Experience, you can expect to receive a £2,000 payment for 191 hours worked.

Workplace Experience opportunities can be found on CareerHub.

The Futures Employability Fund

The Futures Employability Fund is an opportunity for students and graduates up to 2 years after graduation from under-represented groups to apply for funding for activities or items that will help them to improve their employability, develop their skills and experience and gain access to opportunities that a lack of funding may be stopping them from taking.

Our CareerHub information page can be viewed here. 

Students/graduates can apply for funding up to a maximum of £500 per academic year. Students/graduates who submit a sucessful application which is less than £500 can make numerous applications to the fund up to the maximum award value of £500. If eligible, you will be notified via email each month that applications are being taken.

Contact us

Inspiring Futures – Careers and Employability

The Chester Difference Award (CDA) is designed to help:

  • Articulate your skills
  • Boost your confidence
  • Progress your career thinking
  • Prepare for recruitment processes
  • Grow your network
  • Be a student with a difference

The CDA is recognised on the Higher Education Achievement Report and award recipients will receive a certificate of completion.

We currently offer 3 levels of the Award:

  • The Chester Difference Award (CDA) 
  • The Chester Difference Plus Award (CDPA)
  • The Chester Difference Excellence Award (CDEA)

Current students and graduates can access more information on CareerHub.

Careers and Employability also offer a series of Develop.me sessions that enable you to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes that you need for your future. As a student or graduate, you will have access to a variety of meaningful sessions to support you on your personal journey through university and beyond. Take action by attending our live in-person or remote Develop.Me sessions. 

Whether you want to find your strengths, build your confidence, write a quality CV, find out how to be successful during interviews or build your network, we have a session to help you. You will also have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge by learning about your values and the skills that will help you grow and develop, both personally and professionally. 

Our DevelopMe sessions are co-delivered by a range of professionals, consisting of Career Consultants, Entrepreneurs and Employers. 

Current students and graduates can find out more, book onto the sessions or access our range of on-demand content via CareerHub.

Current students and graduates can access more information in the Events section on CareerHub.

Volunteering and Mentoring

The Volunteering and Mentoring team provides supports for your volunteer journey. We provide and share a diverse range of volunteering opportunities within the University and local communities.

Access the Volunteer Hub to find over 100 volunteer providers and 150 volunteering opportunities.  

You can also find further information on other services including:

  • Student-led Projects – Projects run by students, for students. Check out the range of projects ran by our students.
  • Give it a go programme: One-off volunteer opportunities offered every month by the Volunteering Team.
  • UCV (University of Chester Volunteering) Awards – Receive recognition for your volunteering through our UCV Award scheme! Recipients will not only have their volunteering documented on their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) but also, they will be invited to our Make A Difference Celebration Evening held in May each academic year, where individuals and organizations are recognised for their immense effort and service to the community.

Peer Mentoring

Peer Mentoring is a university-led scheme delivered by the Volunteering and Mentoring Team. Peer Mentoring provides support for first-year undergraduate students, matching them with a student Peer Mentor, to support the transition into university life.

Peer Mentors are trained second year and third year students who can share their experiences of university life, signpost you to a variety of useful student support services and discuss a range of topics including:

  • Social: How to explore and access opportunities in sports clubs, societies and volunteering to meet like-minded people.
  • Study: Providing tips on workload planning, time management and how to get in touch with our Academic Skills service.
  • Finance: Student loans are great, but if it gets tricky our mentors can direct you to the Money Advice team.

Please bear in mind this is not an exhaustive list. Every student experience is different, and the Mentoring team are here to help with any matter. 

Education students in Seaborne Library

Student Peer Mentor Comments

“Becoming a Peer Mentor gives me an opportunity to meet and connect with people whom I would not meet otherwise, and it is a real pleasure to be a part in helping somebody settle into university.” 

 

“If someone is thinking of requesting a Mentor, I would say go for it! Mentoring can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement. It's an opportunity to learn from someone who has been through similar experiences and can offer guidance along the way. It's worthwhile!"

Two female students sitting down smiling looking at a laptop

Student Peer Mentor Comments

“If you’re thinking about connecting with a mentor, I would just say go for it! It is your own space so you only need to reach out to us as much, or as little, as you need - we are always happy to help!"

 

“If someone is thinking of getting a mentor, definitely go for it! There’s nothing better than finding a person that understands you and is willing to help. It’s also a nice way of making a friend.”

 

 

  1. Every first-year undergraduate student is eligible to apply for a Peer Mentor. The online application form opens in August and runs the whole academic year. The form should only take a few minutes to complete.
  2. After you have applied, you will be invited to join the Peer Mentoring platform – here you will be matched with a mentor. The Peer Mentor will introduce themselves and welcome you to the University. What happens next is both up to you!
  3. You will also receive a Mentee handbook, an invite to a Mentoring event during Welcome Week and communications from the Mentoring team throughout the academic year.

Get a Peer Mentor

If you are a current Undergraduate 2nd or 3rd year student at Chester and would be interested in joining the scheme as a Mentor, recruitment opens every year in February.

What’s it like to be a Peer Mentor?

  • Before your Mentee begins University: Starting from mid-August, you will communicate with your Mentee through the Mentoring platform.
  • After your Mentee begins University: You will continue to occasionally communicate with your Mentee throughout the academic year. At certain points of the year, you will meet up with your mentee either in-person or online.
  • Throughout the year: You will receive support, communications, skills development and training from the Mentoring team. You can also log your time spent volunteering as a Peer Mentor through the Volunteer Hub to progress towards the University of Chester Volunteering (UCV) awards scheme or Chester Difference (CDA) Award scheme.

Interested? Want to find out more information?
Get in touch with the Volunteering and Mentoring Team:

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn and develop skills and competencies across a wide range of areas (e.g. business & professional, digital and technical, creative & software) in order to achieve your personal and professional goals. Explore over 15,000 video tutorials from industry experts and leaders. LinkedIn Learning is available to all University of Chester students for free.

  • Developing your skills and capabilities to get a job – e.g. interview training, presentation skills, giving your elevator pitch, searching and applying to jobs, crafting your professional LinkedIn profile 
  • Developing your digital / IT skills – e.g. PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and other software
  • Developing key skills needed in your future careers – e.g. Project Management, Working in Teams, Communication, Time Management, other specific technologies
  • Courses to help you and your own wellbeing – e.g. Self-motivation, Wellness, Improving your Focus, Resilience, Stress & Relaxation

Do I need a LinkedIn profile to use LinkedIn Learning?

  • No, but it helps. You can use LinkedIn Learning without having a LinkedIn (networking) profile, but there are several benefits of having both, such as being able to add certificates/badges to your LinkedIn profile when you complete courses.

How long are the courses?

  • Courses do vary but tend to be on average around an hour long. You can pause and come back to it at any time. Every course is made up of smaller video components (usually 3-5 minutes each) – sometimes you don’t need a whole course, and a couple of the quick videos might help you with what you need.

How can I access LinkedIn Learning?

  • Please use this link to take you straight to LinkedIn Learning
  • You will need to be logged into the universities systems using your university username and password
  • If you do connect your LinkedIn profile (see above) then you will also need to be logged into LinkedIn