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Upcoming open days

Undergraduate Postgraduate
Colchester Campus
Saturday 26 October 2013 (booking now)
Southend Campus
None upcoming
Colchester Campus
Wednesday 6 November 2013 (booking now)

Personal details




No open days are available for booking yet. You will be able to book your desired open day online three months before the date.


Tour details




Colchester Campus
Southend Campus

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Looking for work

Whether you’re looking for part-time work while you study, vacation work or internships, or graduate roles, you can make use of our range of resources, information and services to help you find the right job.

Besides the range of on-campus opportunities you can look in to, you can also make use of local and regional resources to find work.

Students based at the Southend campus are allowed to access the South Essex College vacancy board as a source for local jobs.

Local resources

Newspapers and adverts

Local newspapers advertise vacancies, usually once a week on a specific day. We hold a selection of newspapers and you are welcome to visit the Employability and Careers Centre to look through them.

  • East Anglian Daily Times (Suffolk and North Essex) - Wednesday
  • Daily Gazette (Colchester) - Thursday
  • Essex Chronicle (South Essex) - Thursday
  • Essex County Standard (North Essex) - Friday
  • in local newsagents and supermarkets. Shops, restaurants, bars and other street-level businesses tend to advertise jobs in their windows.

Regional websites

Jobcentre Plus

The government agency offering jobseeking information and the Universal Jobmatch vacancy database of full-time and part-time work.

Branches are nationwide, but can be found locally in the High Street, Colchester and Dencora Court, Tylers Ave, Southend.

Recuitment agencies

Recruitment agencies recruit staff for employers. They deal with all types of work and some specialise in specific types, for example, IT, manual or clerical jobs. You need to register with each agency individually and have an up-to date CV.

We recommend you search for a recruitment agency via the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Reputable agencies should be registered with the REC, and you can search their list of agencies by specialism and location.

The hidden job market

It's estimated that about 60 per cent of jobs are never advertised – so how can you tap into this hidden job market?

This is a proactive approach to job hunting that will require you to research company information. This research might include finding out:

  • which employers recruit graduates with your subject;
  • when they recruit;
  • general company information, for example, business plans, key stakeholders and target customers;
  • the responsibilities of the role you are looking for; and
  • what kind of attributes a suitable candidate should possess.

Remember your CV and covering letter should be specifically tailored and adapted to each organisation and role you apply for. Refer to the Essex CV for guidance.

Make use of the internet and social media to network further afield.

  • LinkedIn: develop a professional online profile.
  • Facebook: join relevant groups.
  • Twitter: follow graduate recruiters.

Remember to manage your digital footprint and be aware that how you present your personal life online may well be visible - and potentially off-putting - to recruiters.

Networking is a valuable job search strategy used by students and graduates. Your contacts may include friends, family, tutors, people you have met through part-time jobs, work placements and voluntary work. Even if these people may not be able to help you directly, they might put you in touch with others who can.

Professional associations and organisations, as well as educational establishments, often run networking events and conferences where you can meet contacts.

Networking opportunities

The EssexCV pack

Our Essex CV pack takes you through the CV-writing process from beginning to end, helping you showcase the full extent of your skills and experience, promote yourself to employers and get the opportunity you really want.

frontrunners placements

Frontrunner students gathered round a table

frontrunners is our original placement scheme that offers students paid work opportunities on campus. We are currently advertising a number of placements to start in the academic year 2013-14

JobsOnline

Male student working on a computer

Start your job search now! Register to join our free JobsOnline vacancy board, making it easier for you to find part-time work, internships and graduate opportunities, and receive alerts of new vacancies by e-mail.

Big Essex Award

Big essex award logo

The Big Essex Award is an employability award run by the Employability and Careers Centre. Log your extra-curricular experience hours, add a little volunteering, and we’ll help you identify evidence and effectively sell your skills.