Finished your course? Still need careers information and guidance? Help is available!

Careers Advice

Our support doesn’t end when you graduate. As an MMU graduate you can use the Careers & Employability Service and our resources for up to three years after graduation. Try our e-guidance service and have your career-related questions answered via email or check out the links on the left to find out more about how we can help.

Visit Prospects - the UK’s official graduate careers website - for a huge range of information and opportunities for graduates.

Help may also be available at the University near to where you decide to live after graduation. You can find contact details of services near you on the Prospects website.

Kick start your career with our 10 top tips

• 1. Get started now!

  Get started now!

  The sooner you start working on your next steps the better. Not sure what you want to do or where to start? Have a job in mind but want more detailed information? Visit the Prospects website or read our online guides.

• 2. Seek opportunities

  Seek opportunities

  Stay positive - even in these turbulent times, graduate-level vacancies do exist! Check out the opportunities we advertise for employers or read our job seeking career guides, which are packed with information about where to look for vacancies.

• 3. Know yourself

  Know yourself

  Make sure the jobs you apply for match your skills, personality and interests. Identify what employers want and show how you demonstrate these attributes through your studies, work or extra-curricular experiences.

• 4. Know your future employers

  Know your future employers

  Do your homework on each employer and demonstrate why you have chosen them. Look at their websites, media coverage, annual reports or accounts and use this research to really make your applications stand out.

• 5. Set aside time

  Set aside time

  Career planning and making applications is time consuming and takes a lot of effort. To be successful you will need to work hard at every stage - proof read CVs and applications to check for errors and make sure you prepare for interviews - the effort will be worth it!

• 6. Sell yourself

  Sell yourself

  Present your applications - and yourself - in a professional manner to highlight your key selling points. Poor presentation gives a busy employer an easy excuse to reject you. Sell your skills and experience and show how your degree has made you employable.

• 7. Be flexible

  Be flexible

  This might mean widening your applications, relocating or looking at alternatives such as postgraduate study, self-employment, temporary or voluntary work. Think about each opportunity carefully - could a vacancy which isn’t your first choice get you where you want to be?

• 8. Network

  Network

  Attend business events, exhibitions and careers fairs, and use every opportunity to make contacts. Remember that not all jobs are advertised, so apply speculatively and make the most of your contacts. Networking can also help uncover useful facts which you can use to really make your applications sparkle.

• 9. Get experience

  Get experience

  Give yourself an edge in competitive job markets. Work experience is an essential requirement for most employers, and, whether it’s paid or unpaid, can help you develop a range of skills that will prove that you’ve done more that just your degree at university! Look for internships and at support schemes for recent graduates.

• 10. Don’t give up

  Don’t give up

  Try different strategies to get your feet on the career ladder. If you don’t succeed first time round, ask for feedback and use it to strengthen your future applications.

Above all, ask for help if you need it. Remember, we are here to help you start and develop your career so talk to us!

Graduate Support Schemes

There are a variety of other local and national graduate support schemes available to help you develop your employability skills, discover a career path and provide you with work experience in your chosen industry. Click here for details.

Working for yourself

Thinking of working for yourself? Check out our resources for entrepreneurs and our guide to self-employment .

Whether you have graduated or are just about to graduate, the MMU Business Incubator, Innospace, offers you the opportunity to start your own business by providing premises, IT (including computers, printing and phone) and access to entrepreneurs and business advisers in the heart of Manchester city centre. For more information, a tour around Innospace or just an informal chat with the team, telephone 0161 247 3850, email innospace@mmu.ac.uk or visit the Innospace website.

Useful websites

Take a look at our list of useful websites for graduates.