Careers Officer

GEDU; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Manchester is seeking a Careers Officer to support students in achieving sustainable employment through personalized guidance. The ideal candidate will have experience in employability coaching, excellent interpersonal skills, and a degree in a relevant field. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and requires occasional evening/weekend work.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible benefits

Employee referral scheme

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with participants.
• Provide tailored advice for career navigation.
• Co-create action plans aligned with participant skills.
• Monitor progress and update action plans.
• Help participants register on job boards.
• Collaborate to create professional CVs and applications.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Flexibility

Experience in career guidance

Proficiency in job search platforms

Education

Degree in relevant field

Job description

Department : Graduate Employment and Entrepreneurship

Location : Manchester (On-site)

Type of Contract : Permanent

Working Pattern : Full Time - 40hrs Per Week

Salary Range £30,000-£34,000

GBS is a higher education provider offering a range of sector-relevant courses across ten campuses in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. Working in partnership with several of the UK’s leading higher education providers, we deliver vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in finance, accounting, business, construction, tourism, healthcare, and more.

Our Vision : Changing lives through education.

What We Do

The Employability and Entrepreneurship Department at GBS is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers and business ventures. It offers tailored one-to-one guidance, a dynamic online Careers Hub via Handshake, and a structured Employability Award that builds critical job-seeking skills through Bronze to Platinum levels. Students gain practical experience in CV building, networking, and real job applications, including tools like ChatGPT.

The role

The Careers Officer will play a key a role in supporting students and participants to achieve sustainable employment. Through personalised guidance and proactive engagement, you will establish strong relationships with participants, help them overcome employment barriers, and support them in securing meaningful career opportunities. This role is vital to enhancing employability outcomes and ensuring participants are well-equipped for their professional journeys.

Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

What the role involves

Participant Engagement and Support

Establish and maintain positive relationships with participants, fostering trust and open communication.

Provide tailored advice and support, empowering participants to navigate their career paths effectively.

Career Planning

Partner with participants to co-create comprehensive action plans that identify suitable career opportunities aligned with their skills and aspirations.

Monitor progress and update actions plans as needed to reflect evolving goals and circumstances.

Job Search Support

Provide proactive job search guidance, helping participants register on relevant job boards and platforms.

Ensure participants have optimised digital profiles that are current and visible to employers.

Application Support

Collaborate with participants to create professional, up-to-date CVs, supporting statements, and tailored covering letters for each application.

Facilitate sessions to improve application and interview skills.

Reporting and Compliance

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of participant progress, achievements, and challenges.

Contribute to regular reports on participant outcomes and programme effectiveness.

What Experience / Skills are required

• Essential : High degree of working flexibility is required for some evening and weekend working.
• A degree in a relevant field, such as Careers Guidance, Business, Human Resources or Education (or equivalent experience)
• Proven experience in careers guidance, employability coaching, or a related field.
• Demonstrable success in supporting individuals to overcome barriers and achieve employment.
• Experience working with diverse groups, including mature students and individuals from widening participation backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with participants.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage a large caseload effectively.
• Proficiency in job search platforms, digital tools, and office software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible and adaptable, willing to work across campuses and occasionally during evenings or weekends as required.
• Desirable : A recognised careers or employability-related qualification is desirable.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays
• 1-day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days
• Workplace pension scheme
• Tuition reimbursement for career development courses
• Flexible Benefits : Cycle to Work, Workplace Nursery, Techscheme and much more
• Perks@Work discounts platform, wellbeing centre and much more
• Reward and recognition programme
• £500 award employee referral scheme
• Discretionary annual performance bonus

GBS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. We take our core values seriously and work hard to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed