Careers Network

Careers Network is here to support you by providing information, advice, guidance, events and opportunities to enable you to secure placements, work experience, self-employment and graduate careers. Working closely with your academic School, our teams of experts ensure that every student has access to careers advice and personal support.

As well as hosting one of the largest careers fairs in the UK, we hold sector-specific events, involving employers and Loughborough alumni, to help you make valuable connections and secure high-quality placements and graduate roles. Our initiatives also support students traditionally underrepresented in HE to succeed at every stage of their university journey.

We encourage you to start thinking about you career as soon as you can. There is a lot you can do at university to prepare yourself for life as a graduate.

In your first year, you can:

  • Sign up to the Personal Best programme and use the app to help you review your skills and set goals for your development at Loughborough.
  • Explore the career options section of our website, which provides online tools for self-analysis and helps you find out what career opportunities are out there.
  • Develop your personal and social interests by getting involved in clubs, societies, hall activities or local organisations.
  • Sign up for our Talent Match paid internships scheme to spend a month working with an employer.
  • Start researching placements before the end of the year.
  • Begin to build up varied work experiences through volunteering, work shadowing, work experience, internships, vacation or part-time work.
  • Consider the benefits of mentoring and networking as early as possible.
  • Access personalised opportunities and mentoring to achieve your full potential with the support of the Student Success Academy.
  • Connect with Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) to support you on your enterprise journey, from idea creation to the next big start-up.

Help with planning your career

We offer:

  • Careers coaching and daily advice appointments.
  • Workshops and presentations on topics such as career planning, networking and job searching.
  • Resources and individual advice on CVs and applications.
  • Interview coaching and mock assessment centres.
  • Online tools to support career choice.
  • Advice for securing placements, internships and work experience.
  • Enterprise experts and mentors to support students with new business ideas providing advice and coaching throughout your journey.
Visit the Careers Network website for more information

Support finding a placement or work experience

Taking a year out on placement is a fantastic way to gain invaluable experience in a real workplace, developing your employability skills and building a professional network. There is a wide range of support available, provided in your own School or Department and by Careers Network. You can access opportunities advertised at Loughborough via our central vacancy system Careers Online. However, opportunities will also be promoted by your designated Placements Officer and you can also find placements advertised online.

With exceptionally strong links with employers, we host careers fairs and provide hundreds of opportunities for you to meet employers. The Careers Network team supports students throughout the application process, checking CVs, covering letters and application forms, offering interview coaching, and providing advice on psychometric testing and assessment centres.

Finding a placement

Student and graduate enterprise and business support

Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) provides a range of support and activities to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills, create ideas, and grow your business. The team provide a range of activities to support you at each stage of your journey including:

  • Networking events and inspirational speakers.
  • Workshops and courses online and in person.
  • Enterprise coaching and mentoring from entrepreneurial alumni.
  • Opportunities to connect with likeminded people.
  • Competitions and Funding (LEN Start-up Fund).

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or wondering how to get started, we help you to transition into the world of entrepreneurship, innovation and new ventures, at whichever stage feels right for you.

Loughborough Enterprise Network

Enhance your academic and personal success

The Student Success Academy offers a wide range of personalised opportunities and tailored programmes designed to help you unlock your full potential during your time at university.

With a focus on skills development across all stages of the student journey, we put the spotlight on key transitions including coming to university, moving into and out of your placement experience, stepping up to final year and becoming a graduate.

Our Academic Success Coaches can work with you individually or in groups to help you achieve your full potential in your studies, so that you can achieve the degree you want to. You will learn a range of effective techniques that will enable you to:

  • Identify and play to your strengths, overcoming any barriers to success.
  • Improve academic performance through the development of key skills (academic writing, research skills, time management, self-awareness, and resilience)
  • Gain confidence to access the best university resources, services and initiatives.

Support is also available through the following personalised programmes:

  • Get Ahead Together – A group peer mentoring programme to support your successful transition into university. Providing access to 4 interactive sessions on a range of topics including Step into Study at Loughborough, Making your Money Work for You, Finding Work Opportunities, and Navigating Challenges.
  • Future Talent Programme – A holistic programme designed to supercharge Loughborough’s Black African and Caribbean and South Asian students’ career prospects via meaningful access to work experience opportunities, mentoring, employer events, workshops and more.
  • Maximise Your Money – A bespoke programme of activity bringing together all aspects of financial support available at the University. This includes learning how to budget, navigating the cost of living and how to access bursaries and scholarships.
  • Personal Best Skills Development programme – Workshops and events supporting personal and professional development in a range of themes including Digital Skills, Resilience, Leadership and Sustainability.