Advice, events and support to help you achieve your ambitions.
Work ready, world ready, future ready.
At Solent, we invest in your employability from the start. Your course modules will be focused on real world examples, giving you practical experience to contribute to your final degree and provide you with experience you can use when applying for jobs.
Students studying here at Solent University have access to a dedicated careers advice and employability service - Solent Careers. The team are committed to getting students into great careers by offering impartial information, advice and guidance to support you and help you achieve your ambitions.
You can contact Solent Careers even if you haven't yet enrolled at Solent. Get in touch using careers@solent.ac.uk to find out how your choice of course could support your future career.
Develop your skills
We support you to develop your employability skills and ensure that you find the right opportunity once you finish your studies, whether this is a graduate job, help to start a business or advice on further study. Whether you don't know where to begin or know exactly what you want to do, we are here to help you.
Find employment
No matter what course or level of study you are on, the team and our online service, Solent Careers Online can help you with finding work experience, placements or jobs. We have an employer team who make connections with employers to create opportunities for Solent students and graduates. We list a large number of graduate job opportunities on behalf of recruiters.
Career advice for life
We offer careers advice for life, so even when you finish your studies you can still access our support.
Should you choose to enrol, career advice and support will continue throughout your time here and after you graduate. Solent Careers works with course teams, supporting the curriculum with employability to ensure you know what is possible with your degree. Throughout each year there are careers sessions from the Solent Careers team and from employers on topics like ‘Getting Started with LinkedIn’ and ‘How to succeed at Assessment Centres’ to support you to achieve your ambitions. These are always advertised on the student portal.
Why is employability important?
Developing your employability is more than just having a degree. Employers are looking to recruit graduates who also have the right skills, attributes and mind-sets that will make them an asset for their organisation.
As well as industry specific skills (the kind you will develop through your degree studies), employers are typically looking for graduates who:
- work well in teams,
- generate innovative ideas,
- are confident and proactive,
- have a positive/can-do attitude, and
- have a range of workplace experience.
Opportunities to develop many of these skills will exist within your course, but you will also be able to enhance your employability further by participating in extracurricular activities and gaining work experience.
Part-time work
We are often asked by potential students, “Is there part-time work available in Southampton?”
The short answer is yes. Hundreds of students work in the city every year in retail, hospitality, catering, care, leisure and tourism. Many students also work on campus for Campus Jobs. You can find more information here about how this works.
Solent Careers can support you as you look for part-time work, helping with CVs and application forms or advise you on where to look for opportunities.
It is important not to think of your part-time work as 'just a part-time job' - any work experience will help develop essential employability skills. A degree is rarely enough on its own, so making the most of a part-time job can give you an essential edge over the competition.
Placements and work experience
All Solent students are encouraged to pursue work experience throughout their studies. In some courses this work experience will be an essential part of the curriculum and may be called a placement. In others, it may be optional and something you can do outside of your studies.
No matter which type of course you are on, it's a very good idea to get as much industry experience as possible. Solent Careers can help you find and apply for relevant placements or work experience, offering practical advice and access to employers advertising on our online job board on Solent Futures Online.
Students are also encouraged to seek guidance from their course teaching team. Many academic staff have extensive experience in industry and may be able to put you in touch with someone from their own professional network.
Mentoring
Solent Careers run a professional mentoring programme, called the Focus Programme. This is an initiative to help improve the employability of students by matching them to industry professionals. The scheme aims to help students develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the graduate job market or to achieve their ambition of starting a business or going into further study. You can find out more about this programme and who is eligible to apply here.
Solent Creatives
As a Solent student you can access opportunities through Solent Creatives, our student-powered creative agency. Led by experienced staff from the creative sector, Solent Creatives provides real-world opportunities and guidance, ensuring you're ready to make a mark in the industry.
You can gain paid work experience while you study. Our project-based approach lets you apply your skills in real-world settings and earn while you learn.
We also manage the Solent Startups programme, offering support to aspiring entrepreneurs. We provide guidance to students looking to start their own businesses or work as freelancers.
Find out more about Solent Creatives
Support after graduation
Solent Careers has a commitment to continue to support graduates after graduation. The services offered include continued access to Solent Careers Online where you can sign up for job alerts and have 24/7 access to career management programmes, practice for your interviews with Interview 360. We can also stay in touch via a monthly e-newsletter with helpful advice and guidance for around a year after the course finishes. You can also continue to book one-to-one careers advice and guidance to help with planning what to do next.
To find out more about the career support we offer to our graduates, visit this page.
Contact us
Send us an email on: careers@solent.ac.uk
You can also talk to us at any of our open days.
If you are an employer and are interested in working with our graduates or students, please contact employers@solent.ac.uk.
