Careers Support
At Durham we regard careers support as an integral element of our MBA programmes. Our Leading Edge Programme will give you opportunities to develop essential career development techniques, enhance your leadership skills and build your network that will be of great value to you throughout your MBA and your career.
Whatever your individual needs we work with you to help you identify your career aspirations and give you the opportunity to develop the skills that will help maximise your chances of achieving these.
Our career and skills team have extensive experience in HR, recruitment and career coaching and provide a dedicated service to MBA students and alumni offering one-to-one appointments, workshops, events throughout the year and career resources.
Tailored, individual career coaching
An MBA Career Consultant provides professional, tailored coaching and support in key areas such as: career planning and strategy; CVs and applications; routes into the job market; self-employment; and job search.
Leadership Development
The Leading Edge Programme is designed to provide every Executive MBA student the opportunity to enhance the essential interpersonal skills required to be successful in their chosen field by integrating and complementing the core academic programme and working in partnership with leading experts.
The programme has been designed and developed by identifying what global MBA recruiters demand, consulting previous MBA cohorts, liaising with programme directors and working closely with our leading training partners. The school is committed to ensuring our students have the opportunity to develop the tools and skills required to be successful in their chosen field.
The programme includes the following key elements:
Residential
A residential Personal and Team Development Programme is the first Leading Edge activity and takes place during Induction. This provides a valuable opportunity for you to meet and build relationships with other students and staff and supports your transition to the MBA. You will further enhance your self-awareness and develop, demonstrate and receive feedback on essential interpersonal skills.
You might be interested to watch our video. Whilst this was filmed during the full-time residential, the part-time residential involves similar activities. Watch the video>>
Boardroom Activity
Our unique boardroom activity is an elective module which integrates learning from your core modules into a live boardroom situation. This is designed to replicate the tensions of a real leadership challenge in order to develop the life skills required in a business environment. The activity culminates in a role-play of a boardroom meeting, where experienced company executives chair the session and provide guidance, direction and feedback.
The Boardroom Activity is an excellent vehicle for you to learn strategy and to demonstrate interpersonal skills. You can benefit from the experience and expertise provided by the senior executives, who also provide a further opportunity to develop your network with corporate partners.
Interactive workshops
During your first year, you will have an opportunity to benefit from a programme of leadership development workshops. Sessions may change each year to reflect the needs of the cohort, however an example of the programme includes:
- Become a Confident and Effective Networker
- Delivering Impactful Presentations
- Leadership Transitions
International visits
Included in the cost of your programme is an international study experience of around a week. Destinations vary from year to year depending on global business and economic interest, but usually include a mixture of European and non-European experiences. Destinations on offer vary from year to year. In 2011 they were China, Germany, Brazil and Sri Lanka. With a mixture of company and organisation visits, lectures and cultural events, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in and understand the business environment of another country.
Executive Coaching
Executive MBA students have the opportunity to benefit from individual Executive Coaching during the second year of their programme. The purpose of the Executive Coaching Programme is to provide tailored, one-to-one leadership development, delivered by experienced external Executive Coaches to complement the career coaching service already provided by the Business School.
Online Career Support
Durham students and alumni have access to a comprehensive selection of career development resources and tools, which include global job boards and international recruiter databases, newsrooms, video library and an annual career webinar series.
Events
The School organises a variety of networking events throughout the year however students are encouraged to identify and attend various events within the University and the local area that are relevant to them to build their network. Events organised or funded by the Business School include:
- Durham Speaker Series events
- Leading Edge Conference
- Institute of Directors Convention
Alumni Career and Development
At Durham University Business School we take an active role in developing the careers of our graduates. We can provide you with support in a variety of ways, these include:
- Individual Career Coaching with one of our MBA Career Consultants
- International Career Workshops are currently organised in London, India and China
- A programme of Career webinars run throughout the year on topics such as Taking Control of Your Career in a Tough Market, Making a Career Change and Negotiating a Pay Rise
- When you graduate, you continue to have access to many of the online career resources to support your lifelong learning and career management
