Careers Advice and Work Experience

When you study at the College of West Anglia, you are not just gaining a qualification; it is so much more than that! We will be helping you to make those next all-important steps on your career progression plan, whether that is into employment, apprenticeship, further or higher education or planning a gap year.

CEIAG is available for current, past, and prospective students. Our qualified Careers Advisors can provide you with confidential and impartial CEIAG to help you with your chosen career options if you know what they are, or help you find them if you do not!

Our whole college team are here to help you progress in your studies, improve your employability skills, challenge stereotypical thinking, and support you in achieving your career aspirations. Many of these staff have a specific role to play in supporting your career interests and planning.

Who we are and what we do

• Additional Learning Support Team

  Ensure students with additional needs are assessed prior to starting or during their studies to ensure appropriate support is provided to enable the student to be successful in their studies.

• Admissions Advisors

  Help with advising prospective students about the courses we offer and supporting them through the admissions process to enrol onto the right course

• Apprenticeship Advisors

  Provide CEAIG to apprentices before, during and at the end of their apprenticeship programme.

• Careers Team

  Provide impartial, tailored one-to-one and group CEAIG as required.

• Higher Education Champion

  Supports students to consider higher education as an option for their future career plan and supports students to make successful UCAS applications.

• Student Mentors

  Help students at risk of not completing or achieving on their course to access appropriate internal and external support.

• Teaching Team

  Support vocational, A level and apprenticeship teaching, assessment and learning with relevant links to careers and labour market information.

• Work Placement & Careers Coordinators

  Support students into meaningful work experience placements and provide impartial CEAIG to students during the academic year

Careers advice - What we can offer you

 Whilst we all have a role in supporting CEIAG, the work placement and careers co-ordinators (WPCC), careers team and higher education champion have a specific role in assisting students with the career decision-making process. There are WPCCs in each faculty area and you can contact the careers team via their email address careerteam@cwa.ac.uk.

In addition to the career information advice and guidance provided to all students, the careers team can offer one to one confidential and impartial advice and guidance to help you decide on your next steps. This might include:

• exploring career options & progression routes
• identifying your key strengths, skills, and areas for development
• creating an effective CV/profile
• building your skills for interviews by providing mock interview experience
• marketing yourself in the digital age and upholding your digital reputation
• searching for jobs/ apply for a job
• learning about labour market information
• achieving employability skills through meaningful work experience
• making university or other higher education choices
• completing a successful UCAS personal statements