Career Pathway 1 – Decide
Last Updated: August 29th 2025

Career Pathway 1
Decide
Start building your career skills from day one.
Career paths aren’t always straight lines—you’ll face twists and turns. Begin by thinking about what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what matters to you. This will help you explore graduate opportunities that fit.
Check out the information and activities below to help you get started.
Understanding your strengths, interests, and values is key to planning your career. Try these free online tools to help your explore ideas:
- Prospects Which job would suit me? (5 to 10 mins)
- Self Assessments via Shortlist.Me directly or through My Career account. Test your strengths, personality, motivation, skills, and values
Also, think about practical considerations such as whether you can do postgraduate study or how your plans fit with your life outside university.
See what others with your subject have gone on to do—it’s a great way to be inspired! Check out:
- Prospects – What can I do with my degree?
- Target jobs Degree subjects, my career options
- My Career Pathway What can I do with my degree in …? (choose your subject)
Your degree gives you skills that are valued across many sectors. Here’s how to explore what’s out there:
- Prospects – Explore job sectors open to all graduates
- Target jobs – Graduate schemes and employer events
- Office for Students (OfS) – Graduate Employment & Skills Guide – especially relevant for those just graduating from university
- LinkedIn – Set up your free profile and how to use to it at Get Started with LinkedIn
Try out your career ideas through workplace experience or volunteering during or after university. It builds your skills, boosts confidence, grows your network, and shows employers you’re motivated and ready.
- My Career Pathway Workplace experience – how to search and apply and access to the database of paid internships and volunteering opportunities
- Prospects Work experience and internships
If you’re a current student or graduated within the last 3 years (from a Level 5 course or above) on the Birmingham Newman campus, log in or register to access your My Career account. This will allow you to:
- Explore resources in Pathways and Careers Discovery
- Practice interviews, assessments etc. on Shortlist.Me
- Access workshops and events
- Get job alerts graduate jobs, workplace experience, volunteering opportunities and part-time jobs
- Book a 1:1 appointment with a member of specialist careers staff
Any Questions? Email: careers@newman.ac.uk
Ready to move forward? Head to the Plan stage for what to do next