SUPPORTING STUDENTS TO MAKE GOOD CAREER CHOICES
SARAH BROOKES, Student Services Marketing and Operations Director, reflects on Jisc's latest projects and looks ahead to the new academic year. Careers services adapted to the pandemic by offering virtual careers events and remote guidance, but are students and graduates still making the most of these resources and what do they find useful? The answer to this and more is in Prospects Early Careers Survey 2022, which is now available on Luminate.
BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF 2022 More than 5,000 students and graduates responded to our survey. It shows that after two years of disruption caused by the pandemic – from the shift to online learning and the cancellation of exams to the impact on social lives – it is perhaps not surprising that mental health and motivation are now students' biggest challenges as we move through 2022. These challenges can have many different impacts on career planning. When comparing the findings with last year’s data, the proportion of university students attending careers activities such as events, guidance appointments and help with job applications has declined. However, careers professionals shouldn't necessarily be overly concerned about this drop in engagement. Careers services reported increased engagement at the height of the pandemic and the shift to virtual provision. Interest may rise again when the novelty of returning to face-to-face interaction has worn off. Highlighting the benefits of virtual appointments, such as flexibility and accessibility, could improve interaction when promoting services.
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VALUABLE RESOURCE The data also highlights the importance of careers services, which cannot be overstated. The pandemic saw increasing numbers of students and graduates turn to careers professionals for reassurance and guidance and they remain a valuable resource. The majority (87%) of survey respondents who actively sought advice from careers professionals said that they found them helpful. Those who attended a careers guidance appointment were also more likely to feel prepared for getting a job or apprenticeship (64%), compared with those who hadn't (56%). Careers services should feel encouraged that during times of crisis students and graduates turn to them for support.
