Careers consultant — Amy Longsden

Find out how combining vocational studies with work experience and shadowing enabled Amy to land a great careers advice job

How did you get your job in career advice?

I began doing work experience in the careers centre at the University of Leeds one afternoon a week, while studying for my Level 6 diploma, and alongside my existing work at the university as an outreach officer. At first, shadowing information and advice appointments, then delivering them myself while being observed by trained careers professionals.

This hands-on practice and constructive feedback meant I could progress quickly, developing the required knowledge and skills for my qualification.

After a few months, a role came up for an employability and placements officer in our Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, supporting undergraduates looking for work placements.

I combined this position with one day a week working for a careers company in a sixth form college, where I made the most of my UCAS admissions knowledge, and became a member of the Career Development Institute. Two years later, a careers consultant role arose, and I got the job.

How relevant is your degree to your careers job?

The Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development I completed is a vocational course and entirely relevant to my job.

What are your main work activities?

My careers consultant role is linked to Leeds University Business School, but I work across the whole institution with students at all levels. I also have an additional project, supporting our postgraduate taught (Masters) students with their career development.

At Leeds, the careers consultants are also academic teaching staff and as our final year module, Developing a Graduate Identity, runs in both semesters, I spend a lot of time on that. It involves updating teaching materials, designing activities, answering questions from students, and assessing their reflective coursework on commercial awareness and personal career development.

Around this, I offer 30-minute online or in-person guidance appointments with students and graduates, discussing options and helping them make decisions about their next steps.

I also run a programme of interactive workshops and webinars for Masters students on topics like how to 'sell' their postgraduate experience to potential employers. These interactive sessions regularly feature industry mentors, who take part to provide students with up-to-date advice on their sectors of interest.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

My specialism of working with postgraduate taught students allows me to use my creativity to come up with new ways to engage with a cohort that can often find it hard to make time for their career development.

As a member of the AGCAS PGT Task Group I work collaboratively with people in similar roles at other institutions, which makes me feel like I'm part of a community. Many of us encounter similar challenges and are passionate about finding solutions and sharing best practice.

What are the challenging parts of careers consultancy?

A large proportion of the students I advise are from overseas and want to find work in the UK, but many organisations have low awareness of the Graduate route visa or recent changes to visa sponsorship regulations. It's part of my job to offer employers information and support while advocating for our international cohort and what they have to offer a company. It can be challenging to make sure both sides are fully informed.

Any words of advice for someone who wants to get into this job?

Look out for different roles across careers services, not just the standard careers adviser positions. Larger universities will have teams working in distinct areas like employer engagement or volunteering that will offer a different view of careers work and further opportunities, as well as being varied and rewarding jobs in their own right.

Research the different professional qualifications and providers available, to find the right one for you. The Career Development Institute has a useful breakdown of these. The vocational pathway was the right one for me while I was working full time, but I now wish I had the chance to complete a more academic version with a research project.

Approach people doing the job you're interested in and ask their advice. Careers professionals are happy to give insights on current issues affecting the profession.

Find out more

• Learn more about the role of a higher education careers adviser.
• Gain an insight into the teacher training and education sector.