A new initiative launched by Bristol University to provide free job hunting advice to unemployed graduates is proving a great success. Since the courses began in May last year, 70 graduates have attended and a high number of participants have managed to obtain employment, or have re-examined their goals and have decided to go on to postgraduate education.
Graduate Directions, a series of free three-day interactive courses run by the University of Bristol’s Careers Advisory Service, is aimed at unemployed graduates of any university living within a fifty mile radius of Bristol. The courses are particularly beneficial to those in their first three years after graduation.
The courses, supported by the European Social Fund, will run until September 2004. So far, they have proved very popular with graduates from universities across the region.
Stephanie Wardle, a philosophy graduate unemployed for 7 months before attending Graduate Directions said: "An excellent course – I found new motivation and confidence as a result. The tutors couldn't do enough to help. I really will recommend this course to others and feel much less disillusioned about job hunting and career development."
Three months later, having obtained a fixed term contract with Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, Stephanie added: “The cv and interview aspects of the course were particularly effective and mightily useful in my interview and application process for the lovely new job I've just started. The course was a great help!”
Stan Patrzalek , a mature graduate who gained a First in Spanish said: “The course really empowered and focused me”. Having participated in the course, he decided on a complete career change and is now a student on the Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance at UWE.
Informal and interactive, the sessions, run by experienced graduate careers advisers, offer practical help in developing the skills and knowledge needed to find suitable employment.
They offer plenty of scope for individual attention and help graduates to:
- identify skills and strengths
- clarify career direction
- develop effective job-hunting techniques
- produce a high quality cv
- improve interview skills
After the course, graduates can become registered users of the University’s Careers Service for six months with full and free access to a wealth of resources including employer and vacancy information, job search facilities and a range of psychometric tests relating to career choice.
Jeff Goodman, Director of the Careers Advisory Service said: “We have been delighted with the popularity of Graduate Directions. Those attending have really thrown themselves into the course – and for many this enthusiasm and will to succeed is bearing fruit. We think it’s really made a difference."
Courses take place at the Careers Advisory Service, 11 Priory Rd, Bristol
Course Dates:
2004
April, 5,6,7
April, 22,23,24
May, 26,27,28
June, 24,25,26
July, 14,15,16
August, 4,5,6
September, 2,3,4
If accepted on a course, graduates must commit to attending on all three days. Travel expenses will be re-imbursed.