The Winchester Careers Advantage

• One-to-one appointments: You can book a 40-minute career guidance session with a consultant—either online or in person through the CareerConnect platform—to discuss any aspect of your future.

• Business startup support: If you want to work for yourself or freelance, you can access digital resources on entrepreneurship through CareerConnect or email our dedicated university team for more personal advice.

• Postgraduate study planning: For those who want to keep learning, the team helps you research your options, pick the right postgraduate course, and write a strong personal statement.

• The University itself: Flexible student positions hired directly through the University or the Students' Union (bars, shops, libraries, and ambassadorships).

• Hospitality & Pubs: Major local venues, coffee shops and historic pubs including Hoxton Bakehouse, The Wykeham Arms, and Hotel du Vin and many more, offering flexible shift work for waiting, bar, and kitchen staff.

• The NHS (Royal Hampshire County Hospital): A massive local employer providing extensive clinical, administrative, catering, and domestic support roles.

• Major Employers: Hampshire County Council (headquartered in the city centre) and Winchester City Council, both offering large-scale administrative and community operations. Large employers include Arqiva (telecoms/broadcasting), Denplan/Simplyhealth (healthcare/insurance), and Micheldever Group (automotive distribution).

• Retail & Tourism Giants: Large flagship branches of Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose, alongside heritage institutions like Winchester Cathedral, which employ vast teams for customer service, events, and maintenance.

We will connect you with employers through a range of events, talks, and hands-on experience:

• Careers Events & Panels: The Careers and Opportunities team coordinates regular, on-campus recruitment events and industry panels. These fairs let you network directly with recruiters, explore corporate graduate schemes, and discover hidden job sectors.

• Guest Talks & Webinars: Employers and industry professionals frequently host live presentations, lectures, and webinars. These sessions give you a chance to listen to experts, understand what specific industries look for, and hear directly from successful university alumni.

• Internships & Placements: Winchester partners with external organisations to offer structured work experience, internships, and assessed work placements. These roles—managed through the CareerConnect platform—give you the chance to put your academic skills to the test in a real-world business environment.

• Placements bridge academic study and work experience, boosting your employability, confidence, curiosity, and capabilities.

• Winchester is an ASET member, ensuring placements align with professional training, advice, and sector guidance.

• The Careers Service sources employers annually, providing online and in-person application and interview support.

• Exclusive Final-Year Access: This tailored initiative pairs final-year students one-on-one with an experienced industry professional for invaluable, real-world guidance.
• Targeted Employability Support: Your mentor will work with you to sharpen your CV, practice interview techniques, build professional networks, and boost your workplace confidence.
• Diverse Industry Connections: Gain direct insights from a wide pool of business leaders, professionals, and university alumni representing both local and national organisations.

Evie Smith, BA Hons History graduate

Current job
Senior Special Events Manager at Natural History Museum

Top tip
Make the most of every opportunity available to you whether that be 
societies, careers, part-time work, or anything else!

• CareerConnect Portal: A 24/7 central online career management system run by the University where you can immediately set up customised daily alerts for local part-time vacancies, placements, and internships.
• 1-to-1 Consultant Appointments: Actionable, individual sessions booked via the student portal that can be conducted online or in person to map out clear career directions and plans.
• CV & Profile Builders: Practical toolkits and expert workshops focused explicitly on building professional CVs, writing tailored job applications, and polishing your digital LinkedIn profile.
• The "Ideas for Careers" Guide: A digital planning resource designed to help you figure out immediate next steps, match your skills to potential job fields, and build early career momentum.
• The Graduate Job Search Guide: A curated repository categorized by industry sector that highlights local, national, and global market trends alongside active recruiting streams.

Rebecca, BA Hons Musical Theatre graduate

Current job
Graduate Trainee as part of the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme

"My degree has effectively prepared me for my current role by fostering confidence, enhancing my interpersonal communication skills, and nurturing creativity. In my current position within management, I am responsible for overseeing and evaluating the relationship between the organisation and its employees, with a particular focus on maintaining a productive and positive work environment.

"I heard about graduate schemes, but the general consensus was that such opportunities were impossible to secure ... I was offered two out of the three graduate schemes to which I had applied."