Planning Your Career

There will always be far more you can do with your degree than you think. Check out the Prospects information on career options with your degree or use our own selection of ‘Options with…’ resources available for the following degree subjects:

• Acting
• Animal Conservation Science
• Art and Design (Generic)  
• Biology
• Biomedical Science
• Business (Generic)
• Conservation Biology 
• Counselling and Psychotherapy (MA or PgD) 
• Creative Writing
• Criminology 
• Dance
• Diagnostic Radiography
• Education Studies 
• English Literature
• Film and Television
• Fine Art
• Forensic and Investigative Science 
• Forestry (Generic)
• Games Design
• Geography
• Graphic Design
• Healthcare Science 
• Illustration 
• Law
• Marine and Freshwater Conservation 
• Media Arts (Generic) 
• Microbiology
• Midwifery
• Musical Theatre 
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy 
• Outdoor Studies (Generic) 
• Performing Arts 
• Performing Arts (Generic)
• Photography
• Physiotherapy
• Primary Education (with QTS)
• Policing; Project Management
• Psychology
• Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice
• Social Work
• Sport (Generic)
• Teaching and Learning 
• Wildlife Media
• Working with Children and Families 
• Youth and Community Work
• Zoology

If you can’t find your subject above, you may be able to find it on the Prospects website where they have guides for more subjects.

When deciding on a career it is worth exploring what recent graduates have done following their degree.  The Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) rated the University of Cumbria as top in the North West and amongst the best in the UK for graduate employability. 96% of our graduates are in employment or undertaking further study within 15 months of graduating.

The Graduate Outcomes Survey has replaced the Destinations on Leaving Higher Education (DLHE) survey which contacted graduates only 6 months after graduation. Graduates are now contacted 15 months after they finish their studies. To find out more about the survey visit https://www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk/

For information on every job sector, with advice on how to pursue careers in various fields, overviews of the market and different routes you can take, have a look at the comprehensive guide available on Prospects.

You may also wish to consider postgraduate study.

There are likely to be so many skills you need for a successful future career that you already have. Thinking about what skills and experience you have gained can start you thinking about how you might develop moving forward. Complete this Skills Audit to get thinking about all your strengths.

Make use of our Career Ahead Employability Award which is designed to help you recognise and develop your employability skills. To find out more information about self-assessing and career planning through Career Ahead, click here. 

There are lots of tools you can use in order to reflect on where you are now, allowing you to set key next steps so that you can develop and build your employability. Whether you want to figure out what kind of job your personality is best suited to, or you want some practical guidance in figuring out your next steps, self-assessment can be a useful tool. Click here to read more about self-assessment and to take a look at 10 free online tools you can access.

Students with a disability or health condition

Managing a disability or health condition develops a whole range of additional skills. The Careers & Employability Service are able to provide guidance on how to identify and promote your skills, strengths and competencies, and particularly those that have been developed through managing a disability. You can book an appointment by accessing My Career Enriched.  

Additionally My Career Enriched has a “Pathways” section with self-directed learning. My Plus: Applying to roles with a Disability is specifically designed for anyone with a disability and includes advice and guidance on applying to roles; communicating your strengths; disclosing your disability and creating an openness statement.

Remember, we are here to help throughout your study and for up to 3 years after you graduate.

So you have a good idea of where you see yourself in the future and what career you want to work towards? The next step is figuring out a realistic plan to help you achieve these goals.

One proven technique is through the use of action planning. Taking 10 minutes to complete an action plan can really clear your head to the strengths you have and the areas you might want to develop, allowing for you to set out relevant goals moving forward. Having this simple plan of action can really help keep you focused and motivated. Here's a Career Action Plan you can download.

Another way to help you plan your next steps is through techniques like SMART goal setting. You can download a SMART Goals worksheet.

Do you need a back-up plan? Sometimes, it can give you extra confidence if you feel like you have a ‘Plan B’. What you decide might be based on a few things. What are you interested in? Where do your strengths lie? Take the time to carry out some research, see what ideas and options you can find and what you like the look of. We are always here to help if you feel like your first plan of action isn’t achievable, so don’t hesitate to book a 'Careers Appointment’ on My Career Enriched, your career hub, if you need some guidance on planning your next steps.

If you feel like you need some guidance from us about what your options are or planning your career you can book an appointment on My Career Enriched, your career hub. Remember, we are here to help throughout your study and for up to 3 years after you graduate.

Useful links:

• Choosing a Career (Prospects)
• 4 routes to take after graduation (Prospects)
• Career options with your degree (Prospects)
• What are you looking for? (Target Jobs)
• Further Study Options
• UoC Student Enterprise Support

Useful links for students with a disability or health condition: 

• MyPlus Students’ Club
• EmployAbility – www.employ-ability.org.uk
• Leonard Cheshire Change 100
• Mind 
• BlindInBusiness
• Ambitious about Autism