Careers tips for university students during the current Covid-19 pandemic. Information includes advice on wellbeing, visas and immigration, where to find opportunities, free online courses and postgraduate study and careers support.

1. Tahira Majothi, Career Consultant (Humanities)
University of Manchester
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/
The Future of Careers:
employability tips during
challenging times

2. How to begin
• Look after your wellbeing. Access support via
the University and Student Support as well as
the Students’ Union.
• Try to maintain a routine, whether this is
continuing with your studies and reading,
exercise, online learning or supporting
family/friends.
• You can also connect with the wider community
via volunteering or blogging about your
experiences. More tips can be found on our
careers blog.

3. Answers to some key
questions from students

4. I want to continue to support my
employability, what can I do?

5. • Start by checking out the resources on the Careers Service
website
• Research sectors/employers/jobs that align with your studies /
interests
• Update your CV & LinkedIn profile by using our starting point
guide
• Practice some psychometric tests via the Careers Service
website under Applications and Interviews. Employers are
moving recruitment online
• Check CareersLink for vacancies and online events and
careers webinars

6. I am no longer in the UK – how can I
access career opportunities in my
home country?
Photo by Shridhar Gupta on Unsplash

7. You can use various online resources to help you manage your
career overseas:
• Prospects.ac.uk
• Passport Career
• CareersLink & the Careers Service Website
• Careers Service YouTube Channel
• Family/friends/previous employers in your home country or
social media connections
LinkedIn is great for connecting with peers and relevant groups
globally as well as researching course graduate destinations.
You can also read/post articles, follow industry influencers and
job search.
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/webinars/

8. How can I make new contacts whilst
I am away from campus?
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

9. With over 500,000 Manchester alum worldwide we have one
of the largest global communities
• Use LinkedIn or FB to connect with alumni living in your
area
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/networks/
• Participate in our online events, details can be found on
CareersLink
• Join our social media groups
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/services/socialmedia/

10. Where can I get travel and visa advice?
All Tier 4 queries to be directed to Student Immigration at The University
of Manchester visa@manchester.ac.uk
Immigration and visa advice from the University of Manchester
UKCISA Advice for International students
Foreign Office travel advice
Photo by Agus Dietrich on Unsplash

11. Where can I find out about opportunities?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

12. Where to find opportunities
• Keep checking CareersLink for updates on opportunities
• Follow employers/companies you are interested in, on their social
media channels and sign up for vacancy email alerts
Amazon have converted the vast majority of their internships to virtual roles.
UCAS update on Covid-19 for those who have applied for teacher training
https://www.ucas.com/providers/coronavirus-update
Schools and academy trusts are likely to make use of video interviews for teacher training
Salford Foundation are still keeping recruitment open for their summer staff roles for the
National Citizen Service (NCS), activities will take place in August.
Goldman Sachs have prepared a Spring virtual sessions programme for STEM students and
graduates interested in applying/learning more about GS Engineering.
FDM are recruiting for IT and business analysis related roles

13. Emsi has a blog using data analytics about the rise and fall of hiring, by region
and sector https://www.economicmodelling.co.uk/blog/
The BBC and Guardian have useful articles on micro or virtual volunteering
STEM sectors still recruiting via Gradcracker
https://www.gradcracker.com/career-centre/covid-19-news
Financial support for creatives via Arts Council
The Creative Society have a blog post with advice for creatives including funding,
benefits, housing, short-term jobs etc
BBC article on the companies that need workers
InsideSherpa lists law firms offering virtual legal internships
https://www.insidesherpa.com/
Companies hiring during Covid-19 via Glassdoor
Rate my Placement webinar on ‘Firing up your Employability’

14. Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteers Manchester – volunteering tips from the
University of Manchester’s Volunteering Hub
https://volunteergm.org/ - volunteering opportunities
across Greater Manchester
https://do-it.org/ - national volunteering opportunities
Help to map a disaster zone to aid disaster relief with
Missing Maps.
United Nations online volunteering programme.
Bird watching to help conservation and global bird
research via eBird
Amnesty Decoders work online to sift through photos,
documents etc to help address human rights violations.

15. What about Postgraduate Study?
Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

16. Postgraduate Study
• Information on the University of Manchester’s
masters bursary:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/f
unding/uk-eu-student-advice/masters-bursary/
• Applicant and offer-holder FAQs:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/coronavirus-
applicants-update/
• For further guidance and details of
postgraduate courses, visit Findamasters.com
and findaphd.com

17. Free online courses
• The OU free online catalogue is available here
• Future Learn - https://www.futurelearn.com/
• edX has free online courses from MIT, Harvard and more
• ICAEW have a ‘university student scheme’ which students
can join for £25 and get access to study. Useful for students
interested in business/finance.
• ‘Consulting Mastered’ have offered their resources free for
any students interested in management consulting careers
• https://www.coursera.org/ - some free online courses are
available, others may charge.
• Guardian article on online learning details courses including
Learning how to Learn, from the Big Bang to Dark Energy, the
Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking and an
Introduction to Screenwriting to name a few.

18. I would like to discuss my options.
How do I book a careers
appointment?
Photo by Headway on Unsplash

19. Careers appointments are going ahead via Skype or Zoom
• CVs can be checked via email
• You can still make appointments by emailing
careers.info@manchester.ac.uk
• You can live chat with a member of the team Monday-Friday
10-4pm in holidays and 9-5 term time
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/services/talktous/