University of Bristol graduates - a guide to our services

Are you graduating in 2012? Do you know what you are planning to do next? If so, the Careers Service would like to know details of your work and/or further study plans - please contact the Graduate Destinations and Statistics Team.

All University of Bristol (UoB) graduates can use the Careers Service but you need to register with us first. The Careers Service is funded by the University of Bristol to help Bristol graduates gain their first graduate job. Therefore, registration and usage is free during the first three years after graduation i.e. up to 30 September 2015 for 2012 graduates. After that a fee is payable.

Please note:

Undergraduate finalists will usually have their access to central IT facilities provided by IT Services withdrawn in the August following graduation. Taught postgraduate finalists finishing their studies in October will usually have their access to central IT facilities withdrawn on (or shortly after) the graduation ceremonies (typically February of the following year). Please see the IT Services website for details of de-registration from computing facilities including how you will be notified, time scales and extensions. The Careers Service recommends you register as a graduate user after you have completed your exams to ensure uninterrupted access to selected careers services and resources.
Bristol graduates are not entitled to use the off-site proxy and you may find that this interferes with your access to our website. Please make sure that you set your computer to stop using the University web proxy.
The year of graduation from the University of Bristol, or the date you left your programme of study if your studies were terminated early, will be checked against the date recorded in the student record system and you need to have studied, but not necessarily completed, a course [certificate, diploma or degree level] leading to at least 120 credits.
Some services and/or resources are only available at by using us in person.
Please note: Access to some Careers Service resources is limited to current UoB students and staff only due to licence restrictions imposed by original information providers.
Before making a special journey please ring in advance to check our opening hours, particularly during vacation periods.
Current students at other universities should use their home institution's careers service.
Graduates of the University of the West of England should use UWE's Bristol-based careers service.

Login and Registration process
Services and resources for Bristol graduates (Guide for Bristol Graduates - Flyer, PDF 183 KB)
Resources unavailable to Bristol graduates
Access to other UK Higher Education careers services

Login and Registration process

If you have previously registered and have been allocated a username [for example, gra99999], then you can log in to the Careers Service website.

Please note:

If you have not previously registered, please follow the registration instructions below either at a distance or in person at the Careers Service.
Complete the registration form only once. Once you have been allocated your account login details, they remain valid until the end of your registration period - i.e. up to three years after graduation.
You can also reset your login details if you have forgotten them.

Either at a distance

If you graduated within the last three years, complete the online registration form for UoB graduates, including choosing your own password (Please note: if graduating in July, please register from 1 June the month before)
Within two working days you will receive your account login information
You will then be able to access selected services and resources, both in person at the Careers Service and from a distance

Or in person at the Careers Service

Explain to Welcome desk staff that you would like to register as a Bristol graduate and give your year of graduation
Collect a username and password from the Welcome desk to enable you to log on to one of the Careers Service PCs
If you graduated within the last three years, select the 'UoB Graduate Registration Form' desktop shortcut icon to complete the registration form including choosing your own password
After submitting the form, make a note of your allocated username which will also be emailed to the email address you provide
You will then be able to access selected services and resources, both in person at the Careers Service and from a distance
You will receive a second email within two working days confirming your registration details

Should you not receive an email within two working days please contact the Welcome desk:
Tel: 0117 928 8221
Email: careers-service@bristol.ac.uk

Services and resources for Bristol graduates

Service or resource name	First three years after graduation	Four+ years after graduation
Advice By Email Service for Bristol graduates unable to visit in person - e.g. for graduates who work full-time and/or live outside Bristol.	Free after registration	Unavailable
Appointments to talk to a Careers Adviser 15-minutes with a Careers Adviser to discuss any careers-related topic ranging from covering letters and CVs to postgraduate study.	Free after registration	Registration fee payable Not available if you graduated more than five years ago*
Appointments to talk to a Careers Adviser - Please note: Please contact the Careers Service Welcome desk by phone - 0117 92 88221 - if you plan on making a special journey. Careers Adviser longer appointments (45 minutes duration) - you must be referred by a Careers Adviser after first attending a 15 minute appointment. A £10 (refundable) deposit is required. These appointments are only available to Bristol graduates during the first three years after graduation. *If you graduated more than five years ago, you are not eligible to talk to a Careers Adviser. You may be able to discuss your career options by using the the free telephone adult guidance service run by National Careers Service (formerly Next Step), although this is not aimed specifically at graduates.
Careers Service physical resources Access to: reference stock, including newspapers, books, journals, videos and DVDs; free publications about occupations and employers; PCs offering access to Microsoft applications and the web, the FunderFinder database as well as the on-line careers 'matching' programs Prospects Planner and TARGETjobs Careers Report.	Free after registration	Registration fee payable
Careers Catalogue Searchable catalogue of print and electronic resources (such as books, journals and websites published by Prospects, TARGETjobs, and Inside Careers amongst many other publishers).	Free after registration	Unavailable
Careers Downloads Content from selected Careers Service events, including audio files (MP3s) and PowerPoint slides.	Free after registration Access at the Careers Service or from a distance	Registration fee payable Registration in person only at the Careers Service Access from the Careers Service PCs only
Careers Events You are welcome to attend events where a deposit is not required. This includes most careers fairs, 'careers in...' talks and employer presentations. Where an event usually requires a deposit [such as in-house workshop type events where places are limited], you will be able to sign-up to events the day before the event if there are any remaining places [although you will not need to pay a deposit]. See also Courses below.	Free after registration Access from the Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Unavailable
Careers Network Database of Bristol graduates willing to offer careers support to current Bristol students and job-seeking registered Bristol graduates.	Free after registration Access from the Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Registration fee payable Registration in person only at the Careers Service Access from Careers Service PCs only
Countryside Jobs Service Access to the online version of the Countryside Jobs Service [requires a special username and password] - jobs in the environment sector, updated weekly.	Free after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Available direct from the Countryside Jobs Service website for a fee.
Courses The Careers Service occasionally delivers a free three-day Graduate Directions course for all unemployed graduates who graduated within the last five years. Each course is designed to give you practical help in developing the skills and knowledge you need to find suitable employment, as well as hints on CV writing, interview techniques and job seeking skills. For further details, please contact Jenny Smith. The Careers Service also occasionally delivers Career Development courses for Bristol graduates only who wish to re-think their career direction. The courses are normally available to Bristol graduates up to 10 years after graduation. For further details, including course fees, please contact Rosemary Lowe.
Employer Directory The Employer Directory provides information about c.1300 companies that feature in various national league tables such as Britain's Most Admired Companies, Tech Track 100, and the Times Top 100 SMEs amongst other listings, as well as company data from the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) 100 and FTSE 250. Search by keyword or company name and filter results by industry and location.	Free after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Unavailable
Graduate aptitude tests Access to online psychometric tests.	Free after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Contact us for further details
Jobs By Email Bristol graduates can sign-up to receive details by email of job vacancies that match occupational preferences.	Free after registration	Unavailable
Law List Law firms offering training contracts.	Free after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Unavailable
Selected careers internet resources Your gateway to careers internet resources selected by Careers Service staff	Free - The Careers Service is not responsible for the content of external internet sites	Free - The Careers Service is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Vacancies Database of current vacancies being advertised by the Careers Service for employers seeking Bristol final year students and graduates. Vacancies include UoB Internships.	Free access to vacancies for 'finalists and recent graduates' and 'UoB internships' as well as 'immediate' vacancies after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Access to 'immediate' vacancies only Registration not required
Video Directory Videos about CVs, interviews, job hunting, career planning and career change - (Video titles list, PDF 306 KB)	Free after registration Access from Careers Service PCs and from a distance	Unavailable

Resources unavailable to Bristol graduates

The nature of our subscriptions to the following electronic resources allows us to provide access to current Bristol students and staff only i.e. for those with a @bristol.ac.uk email address only. Regrettably, therefore, the following electronic resources are not available to Bristol graduates due to licence restrictions imposed by original information providers.

AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) DVDs [in web 'streaming media' format]. Please note: we do have a number of AGCAS DVDs in physical form that can be watched in person at the Careers Service.
Going Global. Please note: alternative international work and study resources are available.
Vault Career Insider. Please note: we have a limited selection of Vault publications in hardcopy that can be consulted in person at the Careers Service only.
WetFeet. Please note: we have a very limited selection of WetFeet publications in hardcopy that can be consulted in person at the Careers Service only.

Access to other UK Higher Education careers services

Under the Mutual Aid Scheme operating between AGCAS member services, you are eligible to receive some help from most other UK universities' careers services within the first three years after graduation. You should contact the individual services before travelling to ascertain eligibility criteria. Contact details available from AGCAS.

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University of Bristol graduates - a guide to our services

Login and Registration process

Services and resources for Bristol graduates

Resources unavailable to Bristol graduates

Access to other UK Higher Education careers services