After Vic... What Next!

Why do people undertake university degrees? Doubtless there are one-hundred-and-one reasons . . . but, cynical though this may seem to be, for the majority of students "getting a decent job" or perhaps "improving career prospects" would feature somewhere near the top of the list. And yet what proportion of the three, four or more years of a degree course do most students devote to active exploration of career ideas—discussions with the University's Careers Adviser (or other staff members), reading careers literature, visiting potential employers, attending campus employer interviews?

In the case of the more "vocational" subjects, and of course for part-time students, the facilities of the Careers Advisory Service at 6 Kelburn Parade may not appear to be needed to any great extent. However, there are plenty of students of law and accountancy (for example) who are far from certain that they can envisage themselves as lawyers or accountants for a life-time. Similarly, not all students of English or of Economics wish to teach or work in a bank. But in many students' minds, there exist some pretty rigid—and limited—stereotypes of the job outlets there may be for their particular degrees.

So what does the Careers Advisory Service do?

• First, we offer sympathetic, individual discussions to any student, graduate,—or small group for that matter. We don't mind whether you have just started your degree (in fact we encourage early contact) or have completed it . . . whether you are thinking of leaving, or of changing tack . . . whether you have no ideas at all, or want specific information about a particular employer or type of work. We won't push you into a mould, or make decisions for you—but hopefully we can ease the path to decision-making.
• Second, we offer a range of free facilities which can be used even if you do not wish to make an appointment to see the Careers Advisor: A careers Library with information on employers and types of work; a fortnightly "Current Vacancies" jobs-sheet (and mailing list); notices of part-time and vacation jobs; and a wide range of employers (50 plus) visiting the campus to hold informal interviews, in July. If you do choose to make an appointment, we are usually able to arrange informal 'exploratory' contacts with employers and hope soon to be offering individual and group occupational interest tests.

What?	Careers Advisory Service, part of the Student Welfare Services Free, impartial, open to any student or graduate.
Who?	Roger Bartley, Careers Advisor, assisted by Barbara Burgess.
Where?	6 Kelburn Parade, sharing building with Accommodation and Director of Student Welfare Services.
When?	9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. weekdays including vacations.

See you!