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Your career programmes

We have four amazing career programmes: the Career Coaching Programme, the Ability Programme, the Digital Careers Programme and Alumni Career Clinics.

Career Coaching Programme

Our Career Coaching programme lets you discuss and explore your career concerns with a professional coach. The programme offers a safe, non-judgemental environment in which you are enabled to find your own solutions. You may find this programme helpful if you: 

  • don't have a clear career development path
  • need help recognising what motivates you, what your skills and values are and where you function at your best 
  • want to explore issues that could be having an impact on your work life.

Eligibility

  • You can apply to the programme if you are currently enrolled on any of our courses and have not participated in the programme before. (Please note that you will need to be enrolled for the duration of the coaching sessions.) 

How does career coaching work?

  • We offer up to six free one-hour career coaching sessions to help you gain clarity and focus in your career development. The sessions will enable you to start to define where you want to go, what it is you want and how you can make it happen. 
  • The schedule for sessions is worked out by you and the coach, depending on your mutual availability. Sessions can be delivered online, in person, or can be a blend of online and face-to-face onsite at Birkbeck.
  • Once you are accepted onto the programme, you will be sent a client handbook explaining how the programme works. Please be aware that there is a waiting list. At the start of the process, the coach will draw up an agreement with you as a client so you have a clear understanding of what will happen in the sessions. They are likely to do the following:
    • Work with you to identify negative thoughts and behaviour patterns that may be blocking your career development so you can address them. 
    • Use exercises that focus on a particular aspect of career and personal development, to highlight your values and skills and identify your interests, blocks and bridges. 
    • Ask you to complete small assignments between sessions. You will be encouraged to reflect and use this as a basis for understanding and action in your career coaching. 
  • The sessions are not prescriptive: the relationship and framework for the sessions will be individual to each coach and client.

Our coaches

How to apply

  • Applications for this academic year's career coaching programme have now closed but we hope to offer more in 2023/24. The application form will be available when the new programme is live.
  • Please be reminded that you must be fully enrolled for the duration of your coaching sessions. Those with 'Exams only' status are ineligible, but if you have any questions please .

What the programme does not cover 

  • This is not personal counselling: the focus will be on your career concerns and not your personal concerns (although they are often intertwined). If you feel you would benefit from personal counselling instead, please contact our Counselling Service. 
  • The Career Coaching programme does not offer advice and guidance sessions: the coach will not give you the answers to your career concerns or tell you what career you should follow.
  • In terms of ongoing support, there is an intensive online Career Change programme, plus a wide range of careers resources, in the Abintegro Careers Portal available by selecting the Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise image tile in your My Birkbeck profile.
  • For one-to-one support, you can book an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants on Handshake. Click on the Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise image tile in your My Birkbeck profile, select Handshake, then click on Career Centre to access appointment booking.

Contact us

Ability Programme

Shortlisted for the 2020 THE Awards  in the category of: Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Birkbeck is committed to being a truly inclusive environment in which all staff and students are treated fairly and with respect, and where diversity is championed. 

Overview

  • At Birkbeck we want to ensure that our disabled students and recent graduates have access to useful, tailored careers advice and work experience so they can find meaningful work and successfully enter and remain in the workplace. To achieve this, the Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise team works closely with colleagues in the Disability and Dyslexia Service and other Student Services. 

    The Ability Programme supports students and recent graduates with a disability, a long-term health condition or who are neurodivergent, who want advice finding a job they'll love, supercharging job applications and the opportunity to connect with Disability Confident employers looking for talented people.

Information for students

  • We run workshops to help you progress your career potential and build your social capital, covering topics such as applying for work with a disability, disclosure, confidence building, resilience, communicating your unique abilities and strengths, networking, and personal branding.
  • You have access to a dedicated Ability e-learning programme.
  • There is also the opportunity to connect with alumni and employers through dedicated employer-led sessions and employer panels. These enable employers to highlight their expertise, their inclusive organisations and recruitment practices, as well the opportunities available for those with a disability, who are neurodivergent or have a long-term health conditions.
  • You will have the opportunity to apply for funded Ability Micro Placements supported by the Ian Karten Charitable Trust. These are of varying lengths.
  • In addition, our experienced career consultants are on hand to offer you one-to-one career advice and answer any questions you have throughout the year.
  • If you have any questions about the Ability Programme, please .

Programme content

Information for employers and organisations

  • Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise Service is committed to working closely with the business community to champion social inclusion and create positive change. Birkbeck was mentioned as an example of best practice in the 2021 Policy Connect All Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology's report Talent and Technology: Building bridges to employment for disabled people.
  • As an employer, wherever you are on your disability journey, imagine the world in 2030, fully inclusive of persons with disabilities. If your organisation is Disability Confident or perhaps working to become more inclusive, or if you are working towards implementing UN Sustainable Goals, supporting the Ability Programme is one way you can support #Envision2030 to transform the world for people with disabilities. 
  • Ways to work with the Ability Programme
    • Working with the Ability Programme is a fantastic way to showcase your organisation's talent brand to disabled candidates in a meaningful and impactful way.
    • There are many ways you can support what we do, delivering workshops, insight events, participating on employer panel events, supporting one-to-one days with sector-specific CVs, cover letter reviews, mock interviews and offering informational interviews.
    • As a careers service, Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise is holistic and agile, and we're open to innovative ideas you may have as well.
  • Ability Micro-placements

Partners

Digital Careers Programme

Supercharge your career on our exclusive new programme: the Birkbeck Career Accelerator.

Programme highlights

  • Delivered by industry experts in recruitment and technology, the Career Accelerator is a six-month programme designed to give you a head start on the job market after graduation.
  • Through a series of interactive workshops, you'll learn insider tips and tricks from recruiters, specialists and leaders at some of the UK's biggest companies. At the end, we'll host a special careers fair where you can put your skills to the test and meet recruiters from organisations hiring right now.
  • With specialist pathways in digital, data and technology, the programme will suit anyone looking to pursue a career in these sectors, but it's open to students from all degrees and departments, since you'll benefit from the world-leading recruitment skills training.

How to apply

  • This is a one-off opportunity that you won't want to miss, but spaces are limited! So apply today via the online form to secure your place now.

Alumni Career Clinics

Gain industry insight and receive CV advice from a member of our alumni community. Find out more about Alumni Career Clinics.

We also offer a wide range of workshops and events, as well as alumni talks and panels, free to students and recent alumni.