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Graduate Leavers Pack

Tools to help you find employment and more...

Latest News & Opportunities

This week's Graduate Talent Tuesday

Unsure about Graduate Schemes? 💭

Find out more about graduate schemes in the resource below. It includes information on graduate schemes, top employers, and links to apply.

Volunteer with BCU

Practice Interviews, Build Your CV and Try Psychometric Tests via ShortlistMe

You have free access to shortlistme as a BCU graduate! Use the access code: BCUgrad

Channel 4 Virtual Work Experience

How to request an Academic Reference

BCU's Workwear Wardrobe

Visit BCU's Workwear Wardrobe to get an item for an interview, careers fair or networking event!

Code First Girls: Sprint Tech MOOCs (Free online course with certificate after completing!)

Level up your tech skills through the various MOOC sprint sessions that Code First Girls are offering. 🚀

Teach First - Teacher Training Programme

You’ll earn from the outset – no fees, no debt. During your first year of the Training Programme, you'll be at point two on the unqualified teacher scale if teaching secondary and point one if teaching primary/ early years. This will then rise in year two to a minimum of point one on the classroom teacher scale. You’ll also receive corporate coaching worth an estimated £900 and a fully funded teaching qualification. From September this year, starting salaries for teachers will increase by 8.9%.

Multiple Locations available

Financial support available

BCU Alumni Festival and Podcast

Discover the incredible journeys of BCU alumni in our captivating podcast series. Join us as we delve into their diverse experiences, successes, and lessons learned, offering inspiring insights into the world beyond graduation.

Screenshot of Alumni podcast episodes

'Become a biomedical scientist' Project Launch

Find out where your Biomedical degree can take you

Who are the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)? We are a professional body, established in 1912, that represents the interests of biomedical science professionals in the UK and internationally. Our mission is to support, progress and promote our members’ careers and their profession, and to ensure recognition for the important role that biomedical science plays in society.

How to ace your first six months in the workplace

So, you’ve landed your dream graduate role. Now what?

We asked AGCAS careers and employability professionals to share their top advice for new graduates.

After you graduate

As a BCU Graduate, you can continue to access careers support for at least three years after you graduate and engage in a range of other graduate employment and training initiatives.

You will have access to dedicated graduate employability advisers for the first 15 months after you graduate. You will then still have access to the BCU careers Service for the remaining 21 months.

Tell us what you're doing

If you're a BCU graduate still looking for work/study/self-employment - Let the graduate careers team know, so we can update our records and let you know of relevant jobs and opportunities.

If you've already started work/study/self employment - Let the graduate careers team know, so we can update records and stop sending you irrelevant communications.

We recommend you keep your BCU student email address active as it will allow you to access free software packages which can be helpful as a graduate for 24 months. Packages include Office365, BCU Award (Formerly Graduate+) and careers resources.

Setting up a graduate account

Once you have graduated,  we recommend you to use your student email address if possible to be able to submit a quick careers or employment query, register to attend graduate careers events, or make an appointment with us for free support.

We offer regular online graduate events to help you with your employment search and LinkedIn networking, CV & cover letters and interview preparation, as well as giving you the chance to come along to our 'Meet the Employer' events where organisations are wishing to recruit graduates like you.

If you are not available to come along to our graduate events, check out our BCU Careers On Demand videos of recent graduate events.

BCUs Grow your own Graduate Programme

Recognising the knowledge, skills and attributes of our graduates, the Grow Your Own programme will actively support BCU graduates into BCU roles

Keep an eye out for new roles as they come in through the BCU website - Jobs at Birmingham City University (jobs.bcu.ac.uk)

If you would like assistance with completing your GYO application and ensure the best chance of success, please contact graduatecareers@bcu.ac.uk

BCU Jobs

Project Officer (Careers) - Grow Your Own

Salary: £26,266 Closing Date: 17/07/26 Apply here: Project Officer (Careers) - Grow Your Own

Enrolment and Graduation Coordinator

Salary: £28,287 Closing Date: 06/07/26 Apply here: Enrolment and Graduation Coordinator

Library Advisor

Salary: £28,287 Closing Date: 06/07/26 Apply here: Library Advisor

Library Advisor - Permanent, part-time role

Salary: £28,287 Closing Date: 06/07/26 Apply here: Library Advisor - Permanent, part-time role

Employment Preparation

Job Search & Networking

WM Jobs
Prospects Graduate Schemes
Target Jobs Graduate Schemes
Unitemps
Jobs in Healthcare
Job search in Walsall
Think Sandwell

Jobs for STEM Students

Resources & support for people living in Wolverhampton

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Professionalism

Professionalism is a powerful quality. It allows you to fulfilll your role to the best of your ability. It helps you to impress and inspire others. And it gives you a deep sense of satisfaction and self-worth.

Job Interview Tips

The interview process wracks the nerves of even seasoned professionals. Prep is key to making a great first impression.

Companies House Guide: Using AI for Application

Your 2024 Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

Debunking Common Graduate Job Myths

Learn about some common misconceptions that graduates have when searching for graduate jobs.

How To Write a Professional Email

Writing an email is a commonly used method of communication in the workplace. Email is fast and efficient, making it perfect for communicating in every industry and every role.

What to wear to a job interview

Ready to plan your interview outfit? These tips on what to wear to an interview (and what not to wear) will help you look and feel confident on the day.

Tips for your first day at a new job

Here are some great tips on how to ace your first day at a new job.

Workwise Travel Scheme - Free Travel*

*Depending on eligibility.

Graduate Recruitment Agencies

Education

Legal & Business

Graduate Recruitment Agencies

Green Careers 🌿

A range of green job boards

Your Guide to Green Jobs

Learn more about sustainability through free online courses below

Green Careers Job Boards

Greener Careers - Sustainable Jobs Board

Ecology and Environmental Job Roles

Green Careers Hub

Self-Employment & Enterprise

Enterprise Graduate Talent Tuesday

BSEEN

BSEEN has supported over 250 students and graduates set up over 200 businesses in the last three years! Could your business be next?

You could set up your own company at any time, including for your placement year or when you graduate. All you need is a viable idea and the commitment to make it succeed

Discover BCU's Self-Employment Offer

View the Enterprise Team's LinkTree where you can find out about the latest BCU Enterprise opportunities and events.

Freelancer Club

Free membership worth £300! Learn about freelancing as a career option through live sessions, mentoring and resources.

Volunteering and Mentoring

BCU Professional Mentoring

Birmingham City University's Professional Mentoring programme links graduates from across the University with working professionals, many of them BCU alumni. Many of our mentors are employed by some of the UK’s most successful businesses and could help unlock the door to your future career. With mentors from a wide range of sectors, including finance, law, education, business, IT and the creative services, we aim to match you with someone who can give you that all important industry insight. The programmes run for ten weeks, and once matched, there will be a minimum of five hours of 1-2-1 sessions between mentor and mentee.

If you are interested in being matched to a mentor please email mentoring@bcu.ac.uk for more information.

BCU Volunteering

Volunteering involves offering your time (on an unpaid basis) to take part in an activity which benefits people (individuals or groups) an organisation, or the environment. Many students and recent graduates see volunteering as an enjoyable way to gain valuable work experience and develop their personal and professional skills.

CV and cover letters

CV360: Virtual CV checker
Target Jobs: CV/Cover Letter Templates & resources

Application Help

Assessment centre and other test practice
Practice tests often used by Civil Service Jobs
Aptitude practice tests
Numerical, verbal and critical test practice

Assessment Centres

Assessment Centre and Psychometric Tests
Target Jobs assessment centre advice

Interview Preparation

Various interview tips and guidance

Interview 360: Practice Interviews.

Professional Development

How to Be Professional at Work: 20 Essential Tips

What employers look for in a winning candidate and how to make yourself employable.

Free online courses and skill refreshers
Learn Digital with Google: Free online courses & development of digital skills
What is the BCU Award?

Earn up to a Platinum Award to show prospective graduate employers that you have all the transferable skills, experience and confidence.

Office for Students: Graduate Employment and Skills Guide
Virtual internships
OpenLearn - Open University: Free online courses & badges for your LinkedIn profile
Circl Leadership Programme - Qualification: 3-5 months virtual programme worth £1,800.

Further Study

Further Study Options: Postgraduate Courses

Stick with BCU - we offer a Graduate Scholarship which is a 20% fee reduction available to BCU graduates (BA, BSc, LLB, MA, MSc, LLM, PGCE) enrolling onto an eligible Master’s or PhD qualification for the first time.

As a BCU Post-graduate, you can continue to access careers support for at least three years after you graduate and engage in a range of other graduate employment and training initiatives from your linked Careers Consultant

PhD Study

Apprenticeships

Find an Apprenticeship

Additional Resources

Undecided career path

Prospects Career Planner
Exploring Options

Disability & Wellbeing support

BCU Wellbeing App: The official wellbeing app for Birmingham City University students and recent graduates *BCU student e-mail required*
Evenbreak - Job board with inclusive employers

Find Disability Confident Employer via the DWP website:

My Plus Students' Club: Browse all the latest listings for internships, graduate schemes and entry-level roles from disability confident employers.
Likewise: well-being support and volunteering opportunities
Change 100: Paid summer internships, professional development and mentoring for students and recent graduates with disabilities and long-term conditions.
The Waiting Room: A collection of mental health support services in the Birmingham area
Headspace: Daily mindfulness and meditation exercises
Birmingham MIND

Money / Benefits

Universal Credit Information
Citizens Advice: Money and legal advice

Schemes for Unemployed Graduates

Higher Level Skills Match Plus

Higher Level Skills Match Plus (HLSM Plus) is a unique, fully funded recruitment style service that supports talented local graduates into roles with leading employers within central Birmingham. You will have access to a personal Graduate Consultant that will support you to secure a graduate level role, with one-to-one advice and guidance, as well as skills matching you to appropriate roles.

To be eligible you must be living in Birmingham or Solihull and be a university graduate that has graduated within the last 3 years.

Graduate Re-Tune

Graduate Re-Tune is an employment and skills initiative that supports unemployed and underemployed graduates into graduate-level roles, with access to one-to-one support from a dedicated Graduate Re-Tune Consultant.

To take part in the programme, you must be registered with a jobcentre based in Greater Birmingham or Solihull.

Contact retune@bcu.ac.uk for more information.

Graduate Case Studies/Top Tips

CEBE

BLSS

ADM

HELS

The Graduate Outcomes survey is the biggest annual social survey in the UK asking what you are doing 15 months after you graduate, you might have continued into further study, started graduate employment or freelancing, set up your business or something else entirely! As the biggest UK annual social survey, the collective graduate voice is powerful and will directly impact the future of education for prospective students.

FAQs

How can I access BCU careers after I graduate ?

Set up a careers account on the link below.

How long can I access careers support for after I graduate?

As a BCU Graduate, you can continue to access careers support for at least three years after you graduate and engage in a range of other graduate employment and training initiatives.

When does my BCU email terminate ?

24 months after you graduate.

How do I access campus services when I leave ?

To be able to access campus you must have an appointment with someone who will sign you in. Once you graduate your student card will be de-activated which will mean you cant drop-in to campus without an appointment.

What should I expect when booking an appointment ?

We offer regular online graduate events to help you with your employment search and LinkedIn networking, CV & cover letters and interview preparation, as well as giving you the chance to come along to our 'Meet the Employer' events where organisations are wishing to recruit graduates like you.

Need more advice? Contact us below.