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Explore Career Ideas

Many people come to university with no clear idea of which career path they'd like to follow. Others do have an initial plan, but new experiences can challenge these ideas and make them reconsider.

It is important to learn about your own skills, knowledge, interests and preferences; explore the options that are available to you; research employers and career sectors and identify opportunities that match your skills, experiences and ambitions. We have a number of resources that can help you with this.

Find Careers Information

We are a friendly and professional team, ready to help with your enquiries and to support you with your careers research. We provide access to careers information, resources and tools across a whole range of topics for every step in your journey.

Access Events, Appointments and Vacancies

Students and graduates can book events and appointments, and access vacancies through our online portal.

If you are exploring your options, researching vacancies or, if you are applying and need help with applications, interviews and assessment centres you'll find relevant support on our website. We regularly post careers news and information on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts so follow us for the latest updates.

Find Out About Employers and Jobs

Durham graduates are highly employable and the University is targeted by many leading graduate recruiters who want to employ you. Not all institutions are targeted by employers in this way so make the most of these activities to gain a competitive advantage in the recruitment process.

Employer Events

Employers target Durham University throughout the year, hosting both in-person and virtual company presentations and drop-in sessions, supporting skills development and taking part in forums and other events. Make the most of these opportunities to find out about different companies and sectors, meet Durham alumni and discover what it's really like to work for a particular organisation.

Vacancies

We have vacancy details from large international companies, small businesses, public and private sector companies and charities. Whether you want part-time work, summer placements or graduate employment, you can check vacancy details online 24hrs a day 7 days a week using your standard University network login.

Come Along to a Career Fair

Our career fairs run every year and give you the opportunity to meet with a wide range of employers and talk to them about opportunities in their sector. It's a great way to find out about the organisation and its various schemes before you start applying and ask the kind of questions that might be awkward to ask at an interview.

Supporting Diverse Needs

Durham University is a diverse social and academic community, with 150 countries represented in our staff and student bodies.

The Careers & Enterprise Centre is actively committed to supporting the diverse needs of our students and graduates and we offer a comprehensive range of tailored support, activities and resources. 

Our series of ‘Journeys’ aims to capture and share the experiences of Durham University students and alumni from diverse backgrounds. These share personal insights, challenges experienced, achievements and advice to support Durham students and graduates.

To browse ‘Journeys’ and to find out more about Careers and Enterprise activities and support for students and graduates from diverse backgrounds, please visit our Supporting Diverse Needs webpage.

International Students

The Careers & Enterprise Centre also delivers sessions on topics aimed specifically at international students in collaboration with the Durham Centre for Academic Development. These are part of the Durham International Student Employability Programme (DISEP).

Postgraduate Research Students

The Careers & Enterprise Centre provides specialist support for postgraduate research students and early career researchers to help you plan and prepare for a successful future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers adviser who can discuss individual career situations impartially and confidentially. You can also access PGR-specific employer presentations, alumni talks and enterprise support.

Postgraduate research students can also access the full complement of services and opportunities provided by the Careers & Enterprise Centre including employer events, career sector forums, skills development activities and employment and work experience opportunities.

Postgraduate Taught Students

You may have decided to undertake postgraduate study as a means of exploring your subject area in more depth; it may be that you wanted to study something different or with a particular vocation in mind.

Irrespective of the type of postgraduate programme that you have opted for, you will be developing skills that will support your employability. The Careers & Enterprise Centre runs a series of workshops exclusively for postgraduate taught students. The PGT Career Development Programme has been developed to support your career planning and provide an opportunity to reflect on the skills developed during your Masters.