Information resources for career choice & development
Select the category you are interested in from the following list
See also the Choose a career and Succeed in the selection process menus.
| Subject & title | Location & notes |
|---|---|
| Career choice | |
| After you graduate: finding and getting work you will enjoy | Skills shelves |
| An academic career http://www.manchester.ac.uk/academiccareer |
Website created by the Careers and Employability Division at the University of Manchester. Designed to help all levels of students, alumni and researchers who might be considering a career in academia. |
| Assessment survival
guide: steps to success: tips on preparing, practising and performing
effectively at a graduate and industrial placement assessment centre |
Skills file 5a:
assessment centres; Online at http://www.peoplebank.com/pb3/corporate/PSA/shared/download/ Assessment_Centre_Survival_Guide.pdf |
| Balanced researcher: strategies for busy researchers | Skills shelves; Online at http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcherbooklets |
| Beyond the PhD http://www.beyondthephd.co.uk |
Career resource for arts and humanities PhD researchers. Includes video and audio clips, articles and profiles on the career development of PhD graduates. |
| Brand you: turn your unique talents into a winning formula | Skills shelves |
| Build your own rainbow: a workbook for career and life management | Skills shelves; Library - two 7 day loan copies |
| Building a successful career in scientific research: a guide for PhD students and postdocs | With occupational files V |
| Career change handbook : how to find out what you're good at and what you enjoy - then get someone to pay you for it | Skills shelves; Library - one 7 day loan copy (donated by CAS) |
| Career networking: networking for career and job success | Skills shelves |
| Career planning for research bioscientists | Skills shelves; Library - one 7 day loan copy (donated by CAS); See also companion website http://www.wiley.com/go/blackford/careerplanning. |
| Career skills: opening doors into the job market | Skills shelves; see also companion website http://www.careerskills.org.uk. |
| Career trends: careers away from the bench: advice and options for scientists | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Available to download at www.sciencecareers.org/booklets. |
| CareerPlayer http://www.careerplayer.com |
Careers video library containing information on industries, job roles, employers and tips and advice on career choice, job search and selection topics. |
| Careers after biological sciences http://biosciencecareers.wordpress.com/ |
Interesting blog with lots of career stories from Biological Sciences graduates. |
| Careers for modern linguists (CAS publication) |  PDF
file - 131 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Careers for those studying economics (CAS publication) | PDF file - 30 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Careers guide for scientists (CAS publication) | PDF file - 401 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Careers with a science degree: over 100 job ideas to inspire you | Occupational information |
| Careers with an arts and humanities degree: over 100 job ideas to inspire you | Occupational information |
| Case studies: careers in research - RCUK http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/researchcareers/percase |
Online suite of stories providing an insight about life as a researcher and the different career paths which researchers’ take. |
| Change of heart: career intentions and the chemistry PhD | Skills shelves |
| Changing course: a guide to changing course, withdrawing or suspending your studies (University of Bath Students' Union) | Skills file 10: Career choice and development |
| Changing or leaving your course | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/110. |
| Changing your career: practical advice to help you move on | Library - two 7 day loan copies (donated by CAS) |
| Chemistry PhD: the impact on women's retention | Skills shelves |
| Chemistry skills pipeline | Chemistry discipline file |
| Choosing a career (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 67 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. RTF
file - 496 kbSkills file 10: Career choice and development |
| Confident networking: for career success and satisfaction | Skills shelves |
| Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Longitudinal Survey http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/374 |
Longitudinal destinations data provides an insight into the employment and study patterns of university leavers three and a half years into their careers. |
| Diagonal thinking self-assessment
tool http://www.diagonalthinking.co.uk |
Tool to test for diagonal thinking,
an attribute valued by the advertising
and communications industry. |
| Don't want to use your subject? (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 82 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. RTF
file - 463 kb Skills file 10: Career choice and development |
| Dude, where's my career? The guide for baffled graduates | Skills shelves |
| Ethical careers guide | With occupational files R6; Loan copy available |
| Finding work experience (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 314 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file - you can download a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Flexible working (AGCAS special interest series) | Occupational files R6; Self employment and small businesses file; PDF
file - 239 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file - you can download a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Get that job: easy steps to the job you want | Library - one 28 day loan copy (donated by CAS) |
| Graduate jobs formula: how to land your dream career | Skills shelves |
| Graduate Success http://www.graduate-success.org.uk |
Graduate Success is a project exploring how graduates from a range of backgrounds make the transition to the job market. The website contains advice and numerous case studies. |
| HECSU: Futuretrack http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/current_projects_futuretrack.htm |
Futuretrack is a study which explores the relationship between higher education, employment and career planning. Reports available to download. |
| Higher degrees: postgraduate study in the UK 2000/01 to 2005/06 http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/ migratedd/publications/d/dius_rr_08_16.pdf |
Report from the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills. Section on employment destinations of postgraduates may be of interest to current postgraduate students. |
| How to analyse and promote your skills for work | Skills
shelves; Two loan copies available |
| How to change your career | Skills shelves; Two loan copies available |
| How to get a job you'll love | Skills shelves |
| Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: to turn your career options into great career options, read on… | Skills file 9: job search See also http://www.ktponline.org.uk/graduates. A scheme where universities and employers offer a paid job in industry combined with a professional qualification. |
| Molecular bioscience PhD and women's retention: a survey and comparison with chemistry | Skills shelves |
| Moving on in your career: a guide for academic researchers and postgraduates | Skills shelves; Library - two 7 day loan copies |
| Networking (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 66 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. Skills file 9: job search |
| Next steps: options after a bioscience degree http://www.sebiology.org/education/docs/Next_steps_web.pdf |
Online PDF leaflet prepared
by the Society for Experimental Biology. Covers job seeking strategies, work experience, importance of skills, postgraduate study opportunities, making applications and interviews. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file - you can download a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Personal evaluation toolkit (Unilever) http://www.unilever.com/careers/personal_evaluation_toolkit |
A confidential, interactive exercise to help you with career choice. It is an example of the kind of tools which employers put on their sites and may be largely relevant to careers with Unilever. |
| Planning a career change | Skills shelves |
| Pocket career survival guide | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Covers career choice, skills development and making applications. |
| pros[e] http://www.prosemagazine.co.uk |
Although this site is written for students of English, a lot of the material is more widely useful e.g. for career choice, applications and particular occupations. |
| Prospects Career Planner | Software
available for use in the Careers Advisory Service or from any
PC with internet access - to access the software go to http://www.prospects.ac.uk/planner; See also Prospects Career Planner information on our website. |
| Psychology student employability guide | Psychology discipline file; Available to download from Higher Education Academy Psychology Network website. |
| Rebuilding your life after redundancy: the new life network handbook | Skills shelves |
| Research student's guide to success | Library - two 7 day loan copies of 3rd ed |
| Studying Economics http://www.studyingeconomics.ac.uk/ |
Site includes sections on work experience and options after your degree. |
Team Focus software for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests and personality assessments  |
Practise reasoning tests and assessments designed to establish learning style, personality type and values determining motivation at work. Software available to Bath students and graduates. |
| Travels in a mathematical world http://www.travelsinamathematicalworld.co.uk |
Listen to mathematicians talk about their careers and work. Podcast produced by the University Liaison Officer of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). |
| University of Bath careers guide | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Digital version available |
| University researchers and
the job market (AGCAS) http://www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/ 115-University-Researchers-and-the-Job-Market |
Practical career development resource for research staff. |
| Using your language skills (AGCAS special interest series) | Occupational files A4 and O4; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/using_your_language_skills.htm. |
| Vitae http://www.vitae.ac.uk |
New organisation incorporating the UK GRAD Programme and UKHERD. Support the professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff. |
| Vitae: career stories on film http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/136961/Career-stories-on-film.html |
Films of the career stories of people with a research background. May be of interest to those considering a PhD as well as current PhD students. |
| What do graduates do? | Skills shelves; Download from http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/current_projects_what_do_graduates_do.htm |
| What do graduates do? Scotland http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/hecsu.rd/ research_reports_what_do_graduate_do_scotland.htm |
Report giving information about what happened to first degree, Masters and doctoral graduates from Scottish higher education institutions. Downloadable as a PDF file. |
| What do researchers do? Career paths of doctoral graduates | Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs | Skills shelves; Loan copy available - please ask at reception; Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral graduates | Skills shelves; Loan copy available - please ask at reception; Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What do researchers do? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on | Skills shelves; Loan copy available - please ask at reception; Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject | Skills shelves; Loan copy available - please ask at reception; Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What do researchers do? Labour market information http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/412181/ What-do-researchers-do-Labour-market-information.html |
|
| What do researchers want to do? The career intentions of doctoral researchers | Online at www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd |
| What else you can do with a PhD: a career guide for scholars | Skills shelves |
| What the Careers Advisory Service does for first years (CAS publication) | Handout available |
| Where you can go with Biology | Biology discipline file |
| Your degree… what next? (AGCAS special interest series) | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_degree_what_next.htm. |
| Your foundation degree… what next? (AGCAS special interest series) | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_foundation_degree_what_next_degrees.htm. |
| Your HND… what next? (AGCAS special interest series) | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_hnd_what_next.htm. |
| Your masters… what next? (AGCAS special interest series) | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_masters_what_next.htm. |
| Your PhD… what next? (AGCAS special interest series) | Skills file 10: Career choice
and development; General UK further and higher education; See also http://www.prospects.ac.uk/your_phd_what_next.htm. |
| Take charge!: focused and inspirational advice for career changers | Skills shelves |
| topˆ | |
| Personality assessments | |
| How to pass graduate psychometric tests | Skills shelves |
| Diagonal thinking self-assessment
tool http://www.diagonalthinking.co.uk |
Tool to test for diagonal thinking,
an attribute valued by the advertising and communications industry. |
| FindingPotential: self assessment http://www.findingpotential.com/SELF |
Register for a free personality report. |
| Keirsey.com http://keirsey.com |
Temperament/preference assessment with the same theoretical basis as MBTI. |
| Psychological Testing Centre http://www.psychtesting.org.uk |
A British Psychological Society managed site. Includes guidelines and information for test takers - test takers section. You can also search by test name for reviews. |
| Psychometric tests: what are they and how to prepare for them (AGCAS) | Skills File 4: aptitude tests; Available to buy for 50p |
| Psytech International http://www.psytech.co.uk |
Test provider. Site includes brief descriptions of various ability and personality tests. |
| SHL (corporate site) http://www.shl.com |
Candidate-focused site SHLDirect contains some free example tests including:
|
| SHL best practice http://www.shl.com/OurScience/BestPractice |
Guidelines on best practice in testing, some relating to diversity and disability. |
| Team Focus software for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests and personality assessments |
Practise reasoning tests and assessments designed to establish learning style, personality type and values determining motivation at work. Software available to Bath students and graduates. |
| topˆ | |
| Presentation skills | |
| Assessment survival
guide: steps to success: tips on preparing, practising and performing
effectively at a graduate and industrial placement assessment centre |
Skills file 5a:
assessment centres; Online at http://www.peoplebank.com/pb3/corporate/PSA/shared/download/ Assessment_Centre_Survival_Guide.pdf |
| Brilliant presentation: what the best presenters know, do and say | Skills shelves |
| Essential presentation
skills www.presentationhelper.co.uk /Essential_Presentation_skills.htm |
Online lessons in three presentation skills. |
| Get that job: easy steps to the job you want | Library - one 28 day loan copy (donated by CAS) |
| Overcoming presentation
anxiety http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/ services/counselling/selfhelp/leaflets/presentations.html |
Useful advice from Oxford Brookes University. |
| Presentation skills http://uk.youtube.com/watch? v=EumXWYSCbE4&feature=related |
YouTube video covering the whole process. |
| Presenting with power: captivate, motivate, inspire and persuade | Skills shelves |
| Successful presentation skills | Skills shelves |
| topˆ | |
| Skills development | |
| ACCA: commercial awareness http://www.acca.co.uk/ukgraduates/commercial/ |
A series of podcasts about commercial awareness. |
| All you need to know about commercial awareness | Skills shelves; Loan copy available |
| Assertiveness works | Skills video and workbook - please ask at reception |
| Assert yourself: how to find your voice and make your mark | Skills shelves |
| Assessment survival
guide: steps to success: tips on preparing, practising and performing
effectively at a graduate and industrial placement assessment centre |
Skills file 5a:
assessment centres; Online at http://www.peoplebank.com/pb3/corporate/PSA/shared/download/ Assessment_Centre_Survival_Guide.pdf |
| Balanced researcher: strategies for busy researchers | Skills shelves; Online at http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcherbooklets |
| Brand you: turn your unique talents into a winning formula | Skills shelves |
| Business mathematics: the easy way | Skills shelves |
| Career planning for research bioscientists | Skills shelves; Library - one 7 day loan copy (donated by CAS); See also companion website http://www.wiley.com/go/blackford/careerplanning. |
| Career trends: building relationships: mentoring, collaborating and networking | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Available to download at www.sciencecareers.org/booklets. |
| Careers for modern linguists (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 131 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Commercial awareness and business decision-making skills: how to understand and analyse company financial information | Skills shelves; Lloan copy available |
| Diagonal thinking self-assessment
tool http://www.diagonalthinking.co.uk |
Tool to test for diagonal thinking,
an attribute valued by the advertising and communications industry. |
| Everything you need to know at work: a complete manual of workplace skills | Skills shelves |
| Future fit: preparing graduates
for the world of work http://www.agcas.org.uk/assets/ download?file=941&parent=383 |
Report from the CBI and Universities UK which 'highlights good practice by employers and universities in helping students in higher education develop employability skills that will equip them for their working lives'. Useful for identifying the skills and experience employers look for. |
| Graduate jobs formula: how to land your dream career | Skills shelves |
| Graduate Success http://www.graduate-success.org.uk |
Graduate Success is a project exploring how graduates from a range of backgrounds make the transition to the job market. The website contains advice and numerous case studies. |
| How to analyse and promote your skills for work | Skills
shelves; Two loan copies available |
| Journey to work: from a degree to a graduate job | Includes seven student case
studies and seven employability skills videos. DVD shelf; Streamed version available online http://www.bath.ac.uk/careers/ catalogue.bho/intro (campus only) |
| Managing your placement: a skills-based approach | Work experience shelves |
| Moving on: the physics student's guide to boosting employability | Physics discipline file |
| Networking (CAS publication) | PDF
file - 66 kb You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to
view the PDF file - you can download
a free copy from the Adobe site. Skills file 9: job search |
| Next steps: options after a bioscience degree http://www.sebiology.org/education/docs/Next_steps_web.pdf |
Online PDF leaflet prepared
by the Society for Experimental Biology. Covers job seeking strategies, work experience, importance of skills, postgraduate study opportunities, making applications and interviews. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file - you can download a free copy from the Adobe site. |
| Physicist's guide to getting the most from a physics degree | Physics discipline file; Useful for students from any discipline; Online at http://www.iop.org/careers. |
| Pocket career survival guide | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Covers career choice, skills development and making applications. |
| Rebuilding your life after redundancy: the new life network handbook | Skills shelves |
| Research student's guide to success | Library - two 7 day loan copies of 3rd ed |
| SIFE UK http://www.sifeuk.org |
SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) is dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial skills of university students in a way that is both effective in developing their future careers and meaningful to the community. |
| Skills for success: the personal development planning handbook | Skills shelves; Loan copy available |
| Student skills guide | Skills shelves |
| Talent fishing:
what businesses want from postgraduates http://www.cihe.co.uk/ talent-fishing-what-businesses-want-from-postgraduates/ |
Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) report for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. Includes information on the perceptions employers have of postgraduates and skills that are valued in the workplace. |
| TARGETjobs: skills and competencies for graduates http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and-competencies |
Information on which competencies employers expect and how you can demonstrate them at application and interview. |
| University of Bath careers guide | Skills file 10: career choice
and development; Digital version available |
| University of Bath:
Key skills at the Library and Learning Centre http://www.bath.ac.uk/library/subjects/keyskills |
Webpage details help with skills development available at the University and includes a list of other web-based resources. |
| What else you can do with a PhD: a career guide for scholars | Skills shelves |
| Working towards your future:
making the most of your time in higher education http://www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/cbi-nus-employability-report.pdf |
Guide to developing employability
skills. Produced by the CBI and NUS. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF file - you can download a free copy from the Adobe site. |