Statement of service
About us
Solent Careers is the careers and employability service at Solent University. We are part of the wider Student Success Team who support students throughout their time at University and beyond.
The team are committed to getting students into great careers by offering impartial information, advice and guidance to support you and help you achieve your ambitions. We work with courses to embed employability skills into the curriculum.
We support you to develop your employability skills and ensure that you find the right opportunity once you finish your studies, whether this is a graduate job, help to start a business or advice on further study. Whether you don't know where to begin or know exactly what you want to do, we are here to help you.
The Deputy Head of Student Experience (Careers) is responsible for ensuring staff adhere to this Statement of Service and the AGCAS Code of Ethics, as well as ensuring that the statement is updated on an annual basis.
Solent Careers offers career advice for life. Our alumni can access all our support services.
One-to-one support
- Short, bookable appointments
- Longer careers guidance appointments
- Start-up business support appointments
Students can choose face-to-face or online appointments when they book.
Events and workshops
The team provides interactive central and course-based workshops throughout the year. Many of these are recorded and available online after the session.
Careers fairs
We have an annual careers fair with a broad range of graduate employers. In addition, we often work with courses to deliver smaller, more sector specific employer events.
Job vacancies
We have an online jobs board. All vacancies must comply with our vacancy policy. We strongly encourage users research organisations before applying as we are unable to individually verify details of every vacancy. People applying for vacancies on our system do so at their own risk and Solent Careers and Solent University are not liable for any damages incurred by applicants who have applied for vacancies advertised on our jobs board.
Campus Jobs
Campus Jobs is the University's recruitment service for student opportunities on campus. Solent Careers works with People and Development, Payroll and Finance to coordinate Campus Jobs. Every student employed by Campus Jobs can access the terms and conditions they can expect.
Support for start-up businesses
Solent Careers provides inspiration, information, advice and guidance to students and graduates who are launching their own businesses or thinking of freelancing. There is also the opportunity to pitch for funding if you have an innovative idea.
Fees
There is no charge for any service we offer.
Signposting to other services
When Solent Careers is not able to meet an individual’s needs, we may refer to other sources of information, other University departments or external agencies as appropriate.
Careers education, information, advice and guidance delivered by qualified and committed practitioners;
- Clear, comprehensive and accurate information about our services delivered through a variety of media: in person, in print and online
- Confidentiality in all your dealings with us
- A quality service which complies with the AGCAS Code of Ethics
- A range of up-to-date information resources provided mainly via the Portal and online careers platform
- A commitment to equality of opportunity regardless of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor. The University’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy underpins all aspects of our services
- At least 24 hours’ notification should we delay or cancel any careers appointment or any talk, presentation or other event. The reason for any cancellation will be explained to you
- An impartial service free from any commercial or other outside influences
- A feedback mechanism and complaints procedure.
Solent Careers expects you to:
- Play an active part in careers guidance interviews by completing the pre-appointment questionnaire and following up the interview by taking any appropriate action suggested by your adviser
- Book in advance for careers guidance interviews, presentations and other events where requested and notify us if you are unable to attend, giving reasonable notice in both cases
- Arrive punctually for interviews, presentations and any other appointments
- To treat Solent Careers staff, employers and other clients with respect and consideration and to use the Solent Careers and Solent Creatives spaces in a responsible manner
- Provide feedback on our services when requested and to complete the Graduate Outcomes Survey which you will receive after your graduation.
- Solent Careers works closely with other University professional services and faculties. This cooperation informs our own services, assists other departments and contributes to the University’s Strategy.
- Employability provision for students. We can help to provide skills and training activities to enhance your students’ employability
- Future Me – a tool that enables students to reflect on their career readiness and career planning. It includes resources that can be downloaded by staff and used within professional practice modules/career planning units with students.
- We have a central support offer for all courses
University staff can expect from us:
- An impartial service open, and offering equal treatment to all faculties for the provision of careers advice and employability activities and events
- Support for, and advice on, incorporating careers and employability education into your curriculum.
What we expect from University staff:
- To support the aims and activities of Solent Careers
- To encourage students to make use of Solent Careers and to promote employability activities within your School or Faculty
- To familiarise themselves with the range of services that Solent Careers can offer staff and students through our web pages and other resources.
We can help you to recruit students and graduates in the following ways:
- Advertising vacancies for graduate jobs, internships, year-in-industry placements and vacation work
- Providing facilities for you to make presentations to students or to hold interviews when practical
- Participation in our Careers Fairs throughout the year
- Working with you to promote opportunities and events to key target groups to support our Access & Participation Plan targets and your diversity organisational aims.
These services are normally free of charge.
Employers can expect from us:
- An impartial service open, and offering equal treatment to, all legally-recognised organisations that request us to advertise vacancies or to facilitate access to students and graduates through careers and employability activities and events
- To respond promptly to vacancies received and enter them on the live database as soon as possible after receipt and checking
- Advice and information on our services and facilities, on our website and by phone, email or in person
- Referral to other University staff and departments (such as academic links) where appropriate
- Encouragement and promotion to students to attend presentations or events you are attending.
What we expect from employers:
- To familiarise themselves with our vacancy policy before submitting any vacancies, and to follow the guidelines set out therein
- To submit vacancies via our online vacancy handling portal
- To provide adequate notice of presentations and other campus visits and of any changes to, or cancellation of, these visits
- Compliance with all current UK employment legislation, in particular that relating to equal opportunities and the minimum wage rate.
Solent Careers is committed to equality of access. We have a commitment to equality of opportunity regardless of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor. The University’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy underpins all aspects of our services.
We undertake specific work with students and graduates based on the recommendations in our Access and Participation Plan . This includes, a professional mentoring programme, targeted events, information and opportunities to support students and graduates.
Please refer to our Portal page for further information on how we support students with information in this area.
Services to graduates from other universities
- Guidance appointments are available to graduates considering a postgraduate course at Solent University
- Access to our Portal information pages
We promote our services throughout the year to students and graduates via:
- Regular newsletters targeted at specific course years and graduates
- Weekly newsletters on topical careers subjects with a regular jobs feature
- Social media posts
- LinkedIn group
- Media screens on campus
- Work within the curriculum
- Dissemination through course teams.
The University, as a registered Data Controller, has an obligation to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation and other data protection law and our approach to data collection and processing is set out in our privacy notices.