After launching my career in technical recruitment, I transitioned to supporting mega projects within global engineering leaders BP and KBR, then leveraged this experience to guide others in achieving their career goals.

I thrive on the ‘lightbulb moments’ when clients connect their skills, experience and values to a bigger purpose and step forward with confidence – that’s what makes my job amazing.

…mentoring and training our current interns, and leading on current projects and programmes to help students and graduates get jobs.

I’ve been working for The Grad Soc since I graduated from university, starting in marketing and social media before realising I had a passion for careers and subsequently moving into a management role. The Grad Soc also kindly funded my recent PgCert in Career Development. Before The Grad Soc, I completed around 7 internships and bits of freelance work while completing my degree (fashion communication), gaining experience in content creation and social media management.

I love helping people, and funnelling this passion through a careers pathway is incredibly rewarding as you have the chance to positively impact someone’s future every day. I am also insatiably curious about different career paths and how our knowledge, skills and experiences can shape our future. There’s always something fascinating and new to learn!

I previously worked as Careers & Employer Engagement Manager at Bridgend College where I established and lead a Careers Team that were supporting students to develop their career management skills and plan and secure the next steps in their career. I also headed up Employer Engagement for the College.

Prior to that I worked as a Careers Adviser for Careers Wales, working in schools and colleges, and also with adult clients in careers centres. I provided 1:1 Careers Guidance to support career planning, and delivered group sessions on careers & employability related topics.

I have also worked as a Professional Advocate in the past. This was working with young people in the Care System, to speak on their behalf, or support them to, in order to ensure they had a voice in multi agency meetings or in relation to on going decisions that were being made about them.

I love being in a sector that is centred on People Development. I am passionate about ensuring fairness, helping others grow and succeed, and in making sure the best resources and opportunities are available to support this.

Previously, I worked in sales and marketing roles for an engineering company, an IT consultancy, a publishing house, and for Smythson of Bond Street. All before I was 27, then been self-employed ever since!

I love helping people really see their own value and realise how they can move forward in a way that makes them happy.

I get to be a small part of someone’s journey, guiding and supporting them through their Career Leaders and Career Guidance qualifications and watching them develop the skills and knowledge to fly off into the Career sectors, and the satisfaction I get from signing off on their last assignments is exhilarating. My learners come from all over the world and work across varied and interesting settings, which gives me an overview of what’s happening in the sector. I read and experience some truly inspiring practice through their submissions and observations and it fills me with joy that we are welcoming these people into our world.

On a personal level, I enjoy helping people, and this job allows me to do that and see the results throughout their time in their course. Developing the future talent pipeline is so important to me, and being an assessor provides ample opportunity to nurture that talent, knowing that their clients will be in very safe hands.

It also allows me to keep up to date with changes and developments in the sector, its policies, and regulations, as well as provide valuable input into the training and qualifications to ensure that we maintain the highest professional standards.

…uncertainty and challenge into purposeful working lives they love; I also support the work of the Career Development Institute in Wales on a consultancy basis.

My previous jobs include teaching English as a Foreign Language in France and the UK to secondary school children, working as an estate agent, a sales manager in international publishing, a marketing communications manager in an international FTSE250 company, a co-director of a software start-up, publisher and owner of the UK’s first sales and marketing technology magazine and web portal, and an HE careers adviser, progressing to Director of Student Development and Employability before leaving to start my own business and also taking up Non-Executive positions including as President of the Career Development Institute (2021 – 2023).

I love working in the sector because of the difference I can make by helping professionals who are lost, frustrated, or stuck to create a new career path which gives them meaning, purpose and happiness.

My experience is in careers programme coordination, training management and recruitment.

I love working in careers because I know my work is making a difference to peoples lives.

…these are delivered to young people still in school and post-school by our local employer contacts. I have always worked in the hospitality industry until Covid struck, where I took a chance working in a school as a DYW (Developing the Young Workforce. We are DYW Tay Cities, which includes Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross regions.) School Coordinator and loved it! As an Employer Liaison Officer, I love being able to use my creative mind to come up with ideas to impact and support young people, as well as employers.

Prior to working with Northcoders, I was a Digital Careers Advisor and Recruitment Consultant for an apprenticeship company in the tech sector. This was where I discovered my passion for providing early careers support. I also have a wealth of previous experience from working with SEN children, to working as a Nanny in Egypt!

I love working in careers to support others and having the chance to impact them on their journey into a new career. I love having the chance to celebrate their successes with them.

Like/Love: I especially enjoy the employer engagement aspect to the role and seeking out opportunities to bring young people and employers together, to help provide inspiration and aspiration for learning and work opportunities beyond school and to introduce employers to an emerging talent pool.

Many clients have overcome or still encountering social problems including domestic abuse, trauma, forced life and career changes, and mental health problems.

Clients may need guidance on feasibility of study, finance, and careers guidance. The work I do is directly related to the University’s APP plan.

My 1-1 work includes careers guidance, support with UCAS, writing personal statements, and admissions interview practice.

I deliver group activities for prospective mature learners, Access students.

I was originally worked at an Ambulance Training Centre (pre university training) as an administrator until my mid 20s. I then moved to Higher Education as a secretary as moved to Scotland and worked for the University of St Andrews. I came back to the Midlands as a secretary but then as part of a review moved into student recruitment. I then started my first Level 4 qualification in Careers.

I left HE briefly to work in FE as a Careers Guidance Officer. I then took a year out and did my Masters in Career Development and Management with QCD. I graduated in lockdown and secured my current role.

I love my role because I feel I offer hope when clients feel they have no hope.

…which covers activities such as employer engagement, workplace visits, college application support, skills awareness, and careers-focus days

Previous roles include a Quality Assurance Assessor (for bananas!), a Fresh Produce Buyer for a multinational company, a Rural Insurance Agent, and a Football Coach

What I love about my job is helping to guide students along a really critical part of their educational and career pathway, trying all the time to widen their vision and make them curious and adventurous about their own future.

…embed Springpod into their careers programmes drawing upon my experience as a careers professional. I also support teams internally to plan and design new resources which support careers education.

I have worked as a careers adviser and manager across schools and colleges and alternative provision for 20 + years with my most recent experience in further education. I have also worked in a widening participation role delivering targeted outreach in higher education.

I feel very fortunate to have always worked in institutions where the importance and impact of good quality careers education and guidance have been highly valued. This has given me the freedom to shape career programmes that really inspire and motivate students and provide the information they need to make informed choices. It is incredibly rewarding to know that you are helping young people navigate their career decisions through the experiences that you are sharing.

I’ve worked in Early Careers for 4 years, working with graduates, undergraduates and apprentices throughout their programmes, before that I was a Careers Leader in a local secondary school. I’m passionate about opening up career opportunities to all young people, whatever their background, and love the fact that we enable so many to start their careers with us.

My time is spent meeting with and supporting young people, social workers, teachers and other professionals to find best ways forward.

In 1986 I trained to be a Careers Adviser at Trent Polytechnic and have never looked back as I have worked in Careers and Connexions offices, two universities and several sixth form colleges. I have managed teams, worked with NEET young people and also post graduate researchers and the variety provided to me by my varied jobs, has made time fly by at work. I have been creative, entrepreneurial and shown empathy when supporting others; why would I not be a careers guidance professional?

Prior to working as a careers professional I did a range of different jobs, including lecturing, working in a library, and working as a teaching assistant in a primary school.

What I love about working as a careers professional is that I get to help people in a tangible way that is caring, practical and inspiring. My role combines head and heart in a way that few other professions can offer and I have never regretted it.

…and as a teaching assistant as well as 5 years for SENDIAS (Special educational needs and disability information advice and support service) so support for those with SEND is my passion.

Currently I am a work coach for students with special educational needs in a café one day a week and 2 days a week in a secondary school as a careers adviser.

I decided at the age of 50 to do a Masters in Career Development at Nottingham Trent University. It was hard work but I met a super group of colleagues and enjoyed learning new skills.

I love working with clients of all ages and every day is a different challenge – every person that walks in the door needs to be listened to and supported to help them on their career journey.

…and am then involved in the delivery of careers lectures to students. I also offer 121 careers guidance appointments to students.

Roles I’ve done before: Careers Adviser at University of Wolverhampton, Outreach & Recruitment Officer for Arden University, Account Manager for the National Citizen Service (all education/youth related!)

What I love about my work: I love how dynamic careers is. You literally have to do loads of CPD and be constantly learning as the concept of work and career, and the labour market, is always evolving. I also enjoy how the Consultant position involves both strategic and operational work so I can use those different areas of my brain and be challenged by different things.

In the past I have done a variety of jobs including data and information, customer service, and my favourite was working as a barista in a local coffee shop; I have also done some freelance careers work and run a football podcast.

The main reason that I love my job is that it gives me a sense of purpose, and am delivering the kind of information and advice that I wish I had when I was younger.