Applications, CVs and interviews
Finding work
There are a lot of general jobs boards out there, including Solent Futures Online. If you are looking for part-time work or work in a specific sector, we have put together some targeted links at the bottom of this page. Do you know a great site that's not on the list? Please let us know by emailing solent.futures@solent.ac.uk.
Now, some advice on how to apply for a job you see advertised.
CVs and applications
Applications, CVs and covering letters are the first thing an employer sees about you. If they are uninspiring and difficult to read, what will an employer think about you?
The purpose of these documents is to persuade an employer you have the correct knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job. This is the first step towards getting an interview, therefore you need to make sure that they positively showcase what you have to offer.
Solent Futures CV and application guide
Solent Futures has created a useful guide full of top tips. The aim of this guide is to support you in creating a CV that is professional and showcases your skills, ability and experience to a future employer. The guide provides information on researching the employer and analysing the job description to help you produce a targeted and professional CV.
There is more advice about CVs and applications on Solent Futures Online.
CV360 on Solent Futures Online
Upload your CV and gain instant feedback and see your score against 50+ checks that get checked within the recruitment process. Make improvements based on the feedback, upload again and see your CV improve!
If you are a graduate who would like access to Solent Futures online, please contact solent.futures@solent.ac.uk.
Living CV - helping you connect your studies to the world of work
The skills you learn on your course should be reflected on your CV. Solent Futures has developed a programme called 'The Living CV' which guides you through the process of translating your course learning outputs into employer friendly language.
Look out for information on the Living CV in your course pages. You can talk to your tutor about the Living CV and get help identifying and writing your collection of CV outputs.
You can book an appointment with Solent Futures if you need support writing your Living CV.
The Living CV programme is on Solent Futures Online. To find out more information, you can access it using your student log in and password.
Go to the Living CV programme
Interviews
If you have been invited to a job interview, congratulations! This means your CV or application form was successful and your potential new employer wants to find out more about you. You must prepare for an interview by researching the company and preparing your answers to commonly asked questions.
There are more tips to increase your chances of interview success on Solent Futures Online.
Interview360
Experience a mock interview online and gain feedback and tips on how to improve your performance. Choose from many different types of interviews including competency based, strengths based and behavioural. You can also customise your own questions or take an AI (artificial intelligence) interview where you upload your CV and are asked questions about the content!
If you are a Solent University graduate and would like to access the resources on Solent Futures Online please email solent.futures@solent.ac.uk
LinkedIn advice and reviews
LinkedIn is a great way to grow your professional network and discover professional opportunities. Solent Futures are able to help you build a great profile that highlights all your skills and experiences. We can also review your profile and offer feedback on how to improve.
Once you’re all set up we can show you all the amazing tools and features LinkedIn has to offer and how you can use it to maximise your career success. Get started by watching our online workshop on setting up your profile. Email us for personalised feedback on solent.futures@solent.ac.uk
Jobs websites and employers
Here are some websites and employers who might interest you in various industries and sectors. We have included a selection of websites and companies that Solent Futures think you might find helpful but please make sure you do not limit your jobs searches to these sites as there are many others you might find useful.
Part-time jobs
Southampton Business directory (use this directory to find out which companies have a branch in Southampton) - https://visitsouthampton.co.uk/business-directory
DWP Find a job - https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?cti=part_time&loc=81035
Southampton Jobs bulletin (this bulletin is updated every two weeks with live opportunities in Southampton) http://access-southampton.co.uk/jobs-bulletin/
Retail choice - https://www.retailchoice.com/
Campus Jobs (our jobs right here on campus, use your Solent email and password to log in) - https://solentfutures.careercentre.me/u/ourdu5b5
Solent Futures Online part-time work (Solent Futures very own jobs board use your Solent email and password to log in) – https://solentfutures.careercentre.me/u/xrd1pxx3
Solent Creatives (creative opportunities only for Solent Students, see what is on offer now) - https://www.solentcreatives.co.uk/jobs/
TV and Film
General websites for TV and Film opportunities.
Creative access jobs- https://opportunities.creativeaccess.org.uk/jobs
BBC jobs - https://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/
ITV Jobs - https://www.itvjobs.com/jobs
Independent cinema office - https://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/jobs/
British film institute - https://network.bfi.org.uk/
Local businesses for TV and Film opportunities.
Blue frontier - https://www.bluefrontier.co.uk/services/design/video-production?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7PGKgdzv_QIVFoFQBh0lEAtFEAAYASAAEgI5OfD_BwE
Film hub southwest - https://watershed.co.uk/filmhub/updates/
South point Films - https://www.southpointfilms.com/careers/
BCB media - https://bcbmedia.co.uk/careers
Fashion and the Arts
General websites for fashion and arts opportunities.
Fashion United - https://fashionunited.uk/career-centre/
Fashion workie - https://www.fashionworkie.com/
Drapers Jobs - https://www.drapersjobs.com/
Creativepool - https://creativepool.com/jobs/
Design week - https://jobs.designweek.co.uk/
Arts jobs online - https://www.artsjobsonline.com/
Arts Culture and media jobs - https://www.artsculturemediajobs.com/
Arts jobs - http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-jobs-listings/
Arts professionals - https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/jobs
The stage https://www.thestage.co.uk/jobs/theatre-vacancies
Local businesses for Fashion and the Arts opportunities.
Mayflower theatre - https://www.mayflower.org.uk/about-us/careers/
Mast Theatre - https://www.mayflower.org.uk/about-us/careers/
Hampshire Cultural Trust - https://careers.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/
Fatface head office (Havant) - https://www.fatface.com/careers
IT and Tech jobs
General websites for IT and Tech opportunities
Gradcraker - https://www.gradcracker.com/
Cyber Security - https://www.cybersecurityjobsite.com/jobs/
Technojobs - https://www.technojobs.co.uk/
It Jobs - https://www.it-jobs.co.uk/
CW jobs - https://www.cwjobs.co.uk/
Game Industry - https://jobs.gamesindustry.biz/
Games Jobs direct - https://www.gamesjobsdirect.com/
Grads in Games - https://gradsingames.com/games-job-board/
Local businesses for IT and Tech opportunities.
IBM - https://www.ibm.com/careers/us-en/search/
Garmin - https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/careers/
Arqiva - https://www.arqiva.com/careers/
Sony - https://www.sonyjobs.com/careers.html
Toob - https://www.toob.co.uk/careers/
Ndreams (games) https://ndreams.com/careers
Law
General websites for Law opportunities
National probation service - https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/agency/hm-prisons-probations-service/
Crown prosecution service - https://www.cps.gov.uk/careers-cps
Local businesses for Law opportunities.
Paris Smith - https://parissmith.co.uk/careers/
Irwin Mitchell - https://www.irwinmitchell.com/recruitment
Warner goodman - https://www.warnergoodman.co.uk/site/careers/current-vacancies/
Leonard solicitors - https://leonardsolicitors.co.uk/careers/
Moore Barlow - https://www.moorebarlow.com/careers/
Foot Anstey - https://www.footanstey.com/careers/
Dutton Gregory - https://www.duttongregory.co.uk/site/careers/current-vacancies/
Business, Finance and Marketing
General websites for Business, Finance and Marketing opportunities.
Careers in Audit - https://www.careersinaudit.com
E Financial careers https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/
Simply Marketing Jobs - https://www.simplymarketingjobs.co.uk/
HR Jobs Personal Today https://jobs.personneltoday.com/
PR week Jobs https://www.prweekjobs.co.uk/jobs/
The Drum https://apply.workable.com/the-drum/
Marketing week https://jobs.marketingweek.com/
Event Industry News https://www.eventindustrynews.com/category/event-industry-job-vacancies
Local businesses for Business finance and Marketing opportunities
Enterprise - https://careers.enterprise.co.uk/
B and Q - https://www.bandqcareers.com/
Yo telecom - https://yotelecom.co.uk/careers/
Clevertouch - https://clever-touch.com/clevertouch-careers
Ordnance Survey - https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/careers
Digital agency network - https://digitalagencynetwork.com/agencies/southampton/
Quilter - https://careers.quilter.com/
Carnival - https://www.carnivalukcareers.co.uk/
PWC - https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/early-careers.html
Starling Bank - https://www.starlingbank.com/careers/
Maritime
General websites for opportunities in Maritime
Maritime recruitment agencies - https://www.maritimeuk.org/careers/employers/maritime-recruitment-agencies/recruitment-agencies/
https://www.jobsinmaritime.com/
https://jobs.nautilusint.org/jobs/
Local businesses for Maritime opportunities
South Coast Port Services https://www.portskills.co.uk/tag/vacancy/
Williams shipping - https://www.williams-shipping.co.uk/careers/
Carnival - https://www.carnivalukcareers.co.uk/
ABP - https://careers.abports.co.uk/
Maritime and coastguard agency - https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=b3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZjb250ZXh0aWQ9Mjk4MTg3MTUmcGFnZWNsYXNzPVNlYXJjaCZvd25lcnR5cGU9ZmFpciZwYWdlYWN0aW9uPXNlYXJjaGNvbnRleHQmcmVxc2lnPTE2Nzk0ODUzNDYtYzhmNTJjZTM3ZGQwNWQzMjM3ZWU4NDYwNWFmMDdiOTI2YjJiNzcyNg==
Red Funnel - https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/corporate-info/employment-and-careers/current-vacancies/
Sport and Exercise
General websites Sport and Exercise opportunities
Leisure jobs https://www.leisurejobs.com/jobs/sports-jobs/hampshire/
Sport England - https://www.sportengland.org/careers
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science - https://www.bases.org.uk/vacancy-job_search.html
UK Sport - https://www.uksport.gov.uk/jobs-in-sport
Local businesses for Sport and Exercise opportunities
Hampshire football association - https://www.hampshirefa.com/about/vacancies
Saints Foundation - https://www.southamptonfc.com/saints-foundation/get-involved/join-the-team
Southampton football club - https://www.southamptonfc.com/saints-careers/job-opportunities/job-opportunities
Eastleigh FC - https://www.eastleighfc.com/news-job-vacancies/
Netball south - https://www.netballsouth.co.uk/coaching/coachingopportunities
Portsmouth FC - https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/about-us/work-for-us/
Ageas bowl - https://www.ageasbowl.com/venue/careers/
Planet Education - https://www.planeteducation.co.uk/join-our-team/vacancies
Local Government and NHS jobs
NHS - https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
Southampton City Council - https://www.southampton.gov.uk/jobs/
Hampshire County Council - https://careers.newjob.org.uk/HCC/
Portsmouth City Council - https://careers.portsmouth.gov.uk/
Civil Service jobs - https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
Education jobs Hampshire - https://hampshire.education-jobs.org.uk/Vacancy/SearchResults
General Graduate and Placement job searching sites
Rate my placement - https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/
Student ladder - https://www.studentladder.co.uk/
Gradcracker - https://www.gradcracker.com/
Milkround - https://www.milkround.com/
Prospects https://www.prospects.ac.uk/graduate-jobs
Target Jobs https://targetjobs.co.uk/
Recruitment agencies
Another great way to find employers is through an agency. Recruitment agencies work with companies to source candidates that meet their needs. Use the below link to find agencies in your industry:
Agency central - https://www.agencycentral.co.uk/
Speculative applications, social media and personal safety
Speculative applications find businesses in Hampshire
You may not find the role you want advertised, but did you know many jobs are not advertised. Often those who are successful in securing a job contact the company they would like to work for directly, with a well-crafted CV and cover letter. Use the links below to find out more about speculative applications and to discover businesses in Southampton you may wish to contact speculatively.
Find out more about Speculative applications - https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/cvs-applications-and-tests/making-speculative-applications-graduate-jobs
A-Z directory businesses in Southampton - https://1stdirectory.co.uk/counties/hampshire/page1/
Labour market insights Southampton - https://ed.ted.com/on/iy0sdfYy
Using social media to find jobs
You have likely heard of LinkedIn, but do you know you can use all your social media platforms in different ways to find opportunities. Check out these links below to find out more:
Instagram - https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/using-instagram-for-job-searching-v2/
Facebook - https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/facebook-job-search
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a511260/searching-for-jobs-on-linkedin?lang=en
Things to think about when contacting employers and taking on opportunities for your safety
- Check out the company online. Does the company look legitimate?
- Does the company have a website – does the website look up together?
- Can you find them on LinkedIn – do they have many followers?
- Check review sites, such as Glassdoor to see how others have rated this company as an employer.
- Speak to a member of the Solent Futures team, or your academic if you have any concerns.
- Never give any money to a company for an interview or job opportunity and watch out for scams.