We have information on our website to answer a lot of your questions, and to help you with your career planning. Visit our home page to find links to our resources:

• Careers and Placements website
• Graduate School careers site for postgraduate researchers

You’re welcome to come in and talk to us, but if you’ve just got a quick question you could send us a message on Handshake. We’ll reply to you quickly, and signpost you to appropriate resources and further help if needed.

Careers drop-in is available 11am to 1pm Monday to Friday in semester-time. Ask us about

• where to find relevant careers information and advice
• getting started with career-related issues
• finding work experience and internships / part-time work / volunteering opportunities
• preparing your CV to apply for jobs and work experience
• exploring different types of careers.

Similar to drop-in (above) but available online using Virtual on Handshake, during semesters and vacation. Book a time in Handshake.

For more in-depth advice and guidance, book a careers advice appointment with one of our careers consultants. They can offer impartial and confidential advice on topics including

• considering career options and making decisions
• understanding your careers research and planning next steps
• knowing what you want to do, but needing help with achieving it
• identifying and addressing problems such as concerns with your CV, unsuccessful job interviews or struggling to gain relevant work experience.

Try this first:

If you’re just getting started, you could come to a drop-in, book a First Steps appointment, or find the information you need on our website.

Special circumstances

If your circumstances mean that you would benefit from a longer appointment (for example to discuss issues related to a disability), or you would like to bring a support worker with you to your appointment, please contact us, providing as much information as possible, to arrange this.

Slightly longer (30 minute) careers advice appointments tailored to the specific needs of final year students and graduates. 

Use this appointment to help you:

• Reflect on your current position and, if applicable, your work history
• Target your information search and plan your next steps
• Consider career choices and gain support with your decision making
• Get advice on preparing for your interview or assessment centre
• Deal with unsuccessful job applications, identifying problems and finding solutions
• Consider ways to maximise your current career opportunities
• Consider solutions to barriers you feel are impacting on your career goals

(Feel free to book a careers advice appointment above, if the times available suit you better, or if you just have a quick question.)

Whether you are hoping to stay in academia or are looking at careers in other sectors, use this appointment with the Careers Consultant for postgraduate researchers to discuss any aspect of career management, including:

• Building skills and experience
• Generating career ideas and exploring options
• Decision making and identifying next steps decision making
• Applications and recruitment 
• Interview preparation / mock interview (please state in the appointment booking notes what you are applying for).

We can discuss your CV, LinkedIn profile or any job application you are making at the drop-in or a first steps/careers advice appointment. If you want written feedback, you can request it via Handshake:

• Upload your CV/application to your Handshake Documents (no need to make it 'visible'; read Handshake's guide on uploading a document)
• Message the Careers Information Team requesting a review and tell us as much information as possible, such as:
  • your latest CareerSet score
  • the job you are applying for, with a link
  • the application deadline, if important
  • any particular concerns or questions you have about your CV.

We give feedback within five working days. Due to student demand we can't give repeat feedback on the same document and we don't proofread for grammar and spelling. Use Grammarly, or the tools available in Word or Google Docs to help with this.

Try this first:

• Use the resources in Applying and interviewing for help with CVs, cover letters and applications, and Applying for further study for personal statements.
• Get immediate feedback on your CV from CareerSet - we expect you to use CareerSet before booking a review.

If you have an interview scheduled, for a job or further study, practise answering competency-based interview questions in a safe environment, with expert feedback on your approach. A Careers Consultant will use generic interview questions, so you do not need to send us your application and job description in advance.  The focus will be on how you answer questions and perform during an interview.

Try this first:

Prepare for your interview by using the tips on the interviews page, and practise answering interview questions using Shortlist.Me

Postgraduate Research students, please book a Postgraduate Research Student Careers Appointment for your mock interview if possible.

Help with considering the Placement Year programme available through Careers and Placements. Available to second year undergraduates in semester 1, and to first and second years in semester 2.

Use a Placement Year appointment to help you:

• understand the placements process
• get support with your placement search
• get feedback on your placement application.

Students with a placement year available through their academic department should speak to the relevant member of staff in that department.

Try this first:

Visit the placement year web page for initial information.

Book an Enterprise appointment in Handshake to

• discuss your business idea
• test your proof of concept
• find out about funding your business idea

Try this first:

Find information and advice on the Enterprise web pages and get involved with Enterprise courses and activities.

Once you've explored the resources on our website, book an appointment through Handshake:

• Click on Career Centre / Appointments / Book an appointment
• Choose your year of study from those listed in Choose a category
• Choose which type of appointment you would like; for careers advice you will be able to select in-person or Virtual on Handshake (online) or select no preference for greater choice of available times
• Choose a date and time
• Complete the form and click Request
• Appointments run on weekdays and are bookable a week in advance

During vacations

• During University vacations we offer a reduced number of First steps and Careers advice appointments.

• To get the most from your advice appointment, please prepare beforehand by using the online resources
• Many initial questions can be answered by:
  • using the website
  • sending an enquiry to the Careers Information Team via Handshake
  • coming to Careers Drop-in, running 11am - 1pm every weekday in semester-time

• Careers drop-in and careers advice in-person appointments are available at the Careers and Placements building on Campus West. Other appointments may be offered in-person or via Virtual on Handshake; check your confirmation message for details. For virtual appointments just click on the link in Handshake, or in your appointment notification message.
• We will try to start appointments promptly. If the previous appointment has overrun, we will still try to make sure you get a full appointment
• If you are unable to attend, please cancel as soon as possible on Handshake, so another student may take the appointment time. To cancel an appointment:
  • Login to Handshake
  • Click on the appointments tab
  • Click on upcoming appointment (the one you wish to cancel)
  • Click on cancel appointment
• Students and graduates are restricted to 3 appointments of any one type (eg Careers Advice appointments) in any term. This is to give all users a fair chance of booking appointments. Please use your allocation wisely.

As well as in-person appointments, we also offer online appointments using Virtual on Handshake. So if you are:

• a distance / online learner
• an apprentice
• an undergraduate on your year-long placement outside York
• a York graduate no longer in the York area

you can still book an appointment in Handshake and select Virtual on Handshake as the appointment medium. If you have any difficulty finding a suitable appointment, please message the Careers Information Team in Handshake.

Only current students and graduates of the University have full access to our services. Exceptions to this include graduate access to appointments at busy periods, when priority will be given to current students. If you are currently studying at another university, you should use their careers service.

Graduates of other institutions have limited access for up to three years after graduation. Appointment availability is subject to demand from current students, who will receive priority.

Access is unavailable to University staff and members of the public, unless they meet the above criteria (ie are graduates of York or a recent graduate of another university).

If we are not able to help you, you may be able to get support from the National Careers Service

Student User Policy: Appointments

• Student user policy: appointments (PDF , 70kb)