Careers and Employability
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Careers and Employability
At the University of East London, careers and employability support is built into your student experience. From your first year, you can access guidance, opportunities and resources to help you prepare for work, placements and your future career.
You can use careers support at any stage of your course.
What careers and employability support includes
UEL’s careers and employability support helps you to:
Explore career options related to your course
Build practical skills and work experience
Prepare applications, CVs and interviews
Connect with employers and industry professionals
Develop confidence for your next steps after graduation
Support is available alongside your studies and is designed to fit around your course.
Find out more about our Professional Fitness & Mental Wealth programme.
"I joined the mentoring scheme so I could develop my skills and myself as a person. It's boosted my confidence. I've been able to network with so many different people and identified many opportunities for when I graduate."
Linh Nguyen My
BSc (Hons) Medical Biotechnology
Career coaching and guidance
You can access personalised careers support to help you plan your next steps.
Support includes:
- One-to-one career coaching
- Guidance on career options and pathways
- Support with CVs, applications and interviews
- Advice on placements, internships and graduate roles
Civic engagement
Civic engagement at UEL gives you opportunities to work with communities and organisations as part of your studies or through volunteering.
Through civic engagement, you can:
- Take part in community projects linked to your course
- Volunteer with local organisations and social enterprises
- Build confidence and experience working in diverse environments
- Develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills
- You can also take part in global opportunities through UEL programmes such as Going Global and Global Scholars, which operate internationally.
These opportunities allow you to work with communities, entrepreneurs and organisations while developing practical skills and a global perspective.
Volunteering
Volunteering at UEL gives you opportunities to support local communities while building skills alongside your studies. Through volunteering, you can:
- Take part in community projects and social initiatives
- Choose opportunities that match your interests and availability
- Gain experience valued by employers
- Develop confidence, teamwork and communication skills
You can find and apply for volunteering opportunities through UEL’s online volunteering platform, which helps match you with suitable organisations and projects. Some students can also choose a volunteering module as part of their course.
Professional mentoring
Professional mentoring at UEL connects students with experienced professionals from a range of industries to support career development.
Through the mentoring scheme, you can:
- Gain insight into different career paths and working environments
- Receive advice and guidance from an industry professional
- Build confidence and professional skills
- Develop your understanding of the world of work
Mentors come from a wide range of sectors and organisations, including large employers and smaller businesses. Some students who take part later choose to become peer mentors, supporting younger learners in local communities.
Companies in our mentoring scheme include:
- London City Airport
- BT Sport
- Canary Wharf Group
- Barclays
- Credit Suisse
- Accenture
- HSBC.
I wanted to meet someone who had made their way into the world of investment banking. My mentor from Barclays was always approachable and helpful. He taught me everything I needed to succeed in my professional life, from CV preparation to interview and presentation skills."
Navjeet Singh Gill
BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
Connecting with employers
UEL’s location in East London gives students access to a wide range of employers across finance, business, technology and the creative industries.
You can connect with employers through:
- Employer talks and networking events
- Careers fairs and sector-specific sessions
- Work experience, placements and internships
- Industry-led projects linked to your course
These opportunities help you build professional networks and gain insight into different industries while you study.
Work experience
UEL provides support to help you find and choose work experience and placement opportunities that fit your course and career goals.
You can access:
- Short-term work experience and placement opportunities
- Roles advertised by employers across a range of sectors
- Support for both students and recent graduates
Opportunities are shared through UEL’s work experience mailing list and careers platforms, where you can browse available roles and apply.
Placements
Placements at UEL give you opportunities to apply your learning in a real work environment while developing employment-focused skills. Placement opportunities vary by course and may include:
- Placements built into your degree programme
- Support from academic staff to help identify suitable placement opportunities
- Access to employer networks linked to your subject area
Placement opportunities are available across UEL’s academic schools and span a wide range of sectors, including:
- Health and education (such as the NHS)
- Construction and the built environment (such as Taylor Woodrow, Volker Fitzpatrick, Crossrail)
- Finance and business (such as Canary Wharf Group, ExCel London, Financial Times)
- Media, culture and the creative industries (such as the Natural History Museum)
- Law, public services and the voluntary sector (such as Amnesty International, Citizens' Advice Bureau, Crown Prosecution Service and Shelter)
- Retail (such as Marks and Spencer, Diesel, Urban Outfitters, Liberty)
- Sport (such as West Ham United)
Availability, duration and eligibility depend on your course.
Internships
UEL offers paid summer internships and job-shadowing opportunities to help students and recent graduates gain practical work experience. Through the Summer Internship Programme, you can:
- Take part in short-term internships during the summer
- Gain experience with employers across a range of sectors
- Develop workplace skills and confidence
- Build experience alongside your studies or after graduation
- Opportunities are available with a variety of organisations, including public, private and third-sector employers.
Among the organisations which have participated in our programme are the London Borough of Newham, Balfour Beatty and Clarence House.
Networking opportunities
UEL offers a range of networking opportunities to help students and graduates connect with employers, alumni and industry professionals. Networking opportunities include:
- Careers and employment fairs
- Employer talks and sector-specific events
- Skills workshops linked to networking events
- Events organised by academic Schools in partnership with the Alumni Association
These events give you opportunities to:
- Meet employers and industry professionals
- Learn about different career paths and sectors
- Develop skills such as CV writing, interview preparation and job searching
Previous events have featured almost 100 employers, including:
ACCA Global
British Psychological Society
Canary Wharf Executive Development Centre
Capita Property and Infrastructure
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
East London Business Alliance
Enterprise Rent-A-Car,
Institute of Biomedical Science
Lawyer 2B
Reed Education
Tech up Nation, and
Chartered Institute for Taxation.
Careers and employability FAQs
What careers support is available to UEL undergraduates?
UEL provides careers support that includes access to Career Zone resources, professional mentoring, networking events with employers, volunteering opportunities, work experience and internships, CV and interview support, and guidance on placements.
How do I access careers support and opportunities?
You can access support through the Career Zone platform, where you can explore jobs, internships, events and book appointments for coaching or mentoring. Speak to a Career Coach for personalised guidance.
Is careers support available after I graduate?
UEL offers ongoing career support for graduates, including access to digital resources, workshops and mentoring through services such as the Graduate Success Service.