A university careers service can offer far more than job listings. Imagine a final-year student crossing campus, worried about what happens after graduation. They pass a poster for interview practice, an invitation to a careers fair and a notice about placement opportunities.
“I wish my university offered more career support,” they tell a friend.
It is an imagined scene, but the feeling is familiar. Career support can be available without feeling easy to find, relevant or welcoming. And students do not always recognise the support they have used as part of their university careers service.
What the research actually says
In a survey of 1,671 recent graduates, the Office for Students (OfS) found that 33% said they had used their university or college’s careers service. Yet 72% reported attending careers fairs or networking events, and 71% had used help with CVs, applications or interviews at least once.
These figures do not mean that two-thirds received no help. In fact, 88% reported receiving some support from their institution to prepare for their next steps. The gap may partly reflect how people understand the term “careers service”: a student might attend a fair organised by that team without thinking of it as a careers-service appointment.
The findings concern people who recently graduated from institutions in England. They are a useful prompt to check what is available at your own university, not a verdict on every student or campus.
Why useful support gets overlooked
A careers page can be easy to ignore when your immediate concerns are a deadline, a part-time shift or the cost of getting to campus. You may assume appointments are only for students who already have a career plan. Perhaps the events seem aimed at another subject, or the word networking makes you want to leave the room.
International students can face an additional question: which parts of UK recruitment are you expected to know already? Application forms, assessment centres and interview conventions may be unfamiliar even when you have substantial experience and strong skills.
Universities have a part to play here. The OfS report says graduates wanted more visible support and guidance tailored to their subject and stage of study. Students should not have to decode a complicated website to discover help that could matter to them.
Still, one small enquiry can reveal options you did not know existed.
Start with the question you have today
You do not need to arrive at the university careers service with a five-year plan. Try asking a question that matches your current uncertainty:
- “I have no idea which roles fit my course.” Ask about career exploration, alumni conversations or subject-specific resources.
- “I found a role, but my application feels weak.” Look for CV and application feedback, then ask how to show evidence of your skills.
- “Interviews make me nervous.” Check whether you can book a practice interview or an assessment-centre workshop.
- “I need experience before I graduate.” Ask about placements, volunteering, employer projects and opportunities linked to your department.
The exact services and eligibility rules vary by institution. Search your university portal for careers, employability or placements, and check whether support remains available after graduation.
If a booking page feels confusing, send a short message: “I’m a final-year student studying [subject]. I’m considering [goal], but I’m unsure where to start. Which appointment or resource would you recommend?” That is enough to begin.
Make the first visit count
Before an appointment, bring one job advert, your current CV or a description of a role that interests you. If you are exploring, bring two possibilities and say what attracts or worries you about each. Specific material gives an adviser something concrete to discuss.
Leave with one manageable action: revise the opening of your CV, speak to an alumnus, attend an employer event or find a placement deadline. Then book a follow-up if you need one. Career planning is a process, not a test you must pass in a single meeting.
Your academic work belongs in that conversation too. A dissertation can show how you investigated a problem; a group project can show how you worked with others. At SCRIPTURAM, we help students understand and communicate their academic work with integrity. Your university careers team can help you translate that experience into applications and interviews.
Start with one small step
If you are unsure what your university offers, spend ten minutes looking for its careers page and choose one service to explore. You do not need a complete career plan before you ask for advice.
Check support after graduation
If you are close to finishing, ask about graduate access before your university account closes. Some institutions offer appointments, online resources or alumni events for a limited period, while others have different arrangements. Check the rules early, especially if you are applying from overseas or balancing work with interviews. A short conversation can help you prioritise applications, explain the value of your course and make a realistic plan for the weeks after your final submission. A resource only works after you open it. Start with one question and see what support is available.
Need academic planning or review support?
SCRIPTURAM supports students with assignment planning, brief and rubric understanding, gap analysis, proofreading, referencing and dissertation planning.