Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

Expert career advice and support

Careers support during your degree and for 5 years after you graduate

When you study with us, you'll get access to our Careers and Employability Service from the moment you register until 5 years after you graduate.

You can meet with the Careers and Employability Service at any point during your degree for information, advice, and guidance, whether you're looking for part-time work, placements, volunteering opportunities, work experience or graduate jobs.

You'll be supported by careers advisers with an excellent track record — with 94% of our students in work and/or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21). 

Towards the end of your degree and after graduation you can access our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy, or you can get help applying for further study or to set up your own business.

94%

of graduates in work or further study

(HESA graduate outcomes survey 2020/21)

Speak to our Careers and Employability Service for:

  • ​Careers advice in 1 to 1 appointments
  • Help with finding a part-time job, volunteering opportunity or graduate job (local and national)
  • Access to our online jobs board
  • Enterprise and startup clinics
  • Career skills workshops
  • Online advice and resources
  • CV and cover letter writing
  • Interview preparation and practice

The Careers Service helped prepare me for my graduate interview and gave me all the tools I needed to be successful and get the job on an extremely competitive graduate scheme.

Oakley Cheung, UK Civil Service

Support at every stage of your career journey

Getting started

You’ll receive tailored 1 to 1 support from career advisers to develop essential career skills, from creating your CV or portfolio to preparing for interviews. Our term-time daily drop-in service means you can access support when it suits you, around your studies.

Choosing your career

Our online career guides help you understand everything you need to know about getting into various industries. We’ll guide you through the options available after your degree including providing dedicated support for starting your own business. 

Getting the job

Using your new career skills, we’ll support you with your job search and applications, whether you’re looking to earn extra cash through part-time work, or securing a graduate position ready for finishing your degree. Our in-house Graduate Recruitment Consultancy works with 3000 employers across the South Coast to support final-year students and graduates with their job search.

Graduate support

You’ll have access to all of our services for up to 5 years after you graduate, and our dedicated Graduate Careers Adviser will support you in achieving your career goals following your course. 

Further opportunities to boost your career

Studying with us gives you more than dedicated careers and employability support — you'll also have access to work placement and experience opportunities, volunteering opportunities and business startup advice.

Placement year degrees

Increase your employment opportunities and strengthen your skills by taking a sandwich year degree with a placement.

Researchers in lab coats with computer and equipment
Find out more

Student startup advice

If you've got a passion for entrepreneurship and a great idea for a new business, we can help you get up and running.

One student admiring self-employed placements student's startup
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Work experience opportunities

As a Portsmouth student, you'll get lots of work experience opportunities to try out job roles, apply your skills to different sectors and increase your employability.

Male student working with laptop at University of Portsmouth
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Volunteering opportunities

Discover the benefits of volunteering for a charity or not-for-profit whilst at university. Find a role that matches your interests and career ambitions.

Female University of Portsmouth student volunteering
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