Procedure for Skype Career Consultations

Careers, Employability and Skills encourage all registered undergraduate, postgraduate taught students and graduates of up to two years from Queen’s University, Belfast to engage with our oncampus guidance service.  However we do recognise that this may not be always possible for some of our clients. 

To address this, Skype Career Consultations are available by request for clients who are unable to visit in person.  Users that are likely to fall into this category are:

• Part-time registered students of Queen’s University, Belfast
• Placement students home or abroad
• Students on programmes such as Study USA or Erasmus
• Those with restrictive childcare or carer responsibilities
• Graduates of up to two years
• Students with a disability

NB Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-to-case basis 

Types of Career Queries available for Skype Career Consultations

• Assessment Centres
• Career options
• Graduate employment
• Interview Skills/Interview Practice
• PGCE/Teaching Training
• Postgraduate study 
• Psychometric tests (discussion about the type of tests)
• Work Experience/Placement
• Work Abroad
• Course change
• Other please specify

NB this Service is not open to prospective students, students from another university, graduates beyond two years of graduation from QUB or staff from QUB.

CV/Application Form Checks

Please note a Skype appointment is not suitable for a CV, application form or cover letter check however clients can avail of the E-guidance service for this.  This option can be found either on the homepage of their Myfuture account or on the Career Consultations homepage.

Skype Process

Students and graduates can request a Skype appointment by downloading and completing a request form via their Myfuture homepage or on the Careers Consultation webpage and emailing it to careers@qub.ac.uk  The Service will endeavour to respond to the request within three working days with the decision. 

Assuming the client meets the criteria, a suitable time will be suggested and agreed between the careers consultant and the user.   Where a client has requested a practice interview, supporting documentation such as the job description and application form or CV should be provided in advance of the appointment.

The career consultation will last up to thirty minutes.

The form will ask the client for:

• Name, Student Number and QUB Email address
• Skype username
• Email address used for sign up to Skype (in case it is difficult to verify which user the client is)
• The reason for the Skype appointment

For the Skype appointment, students will be asked to:

• Log into Skype and be 'available' at the start of their appointment slot. The Consultant will contact the client.
• Familiarise themselves with Skype beforehand.
• Give as much notice as possible for their request (in the event the client has an urgent appointment, we will endeavour to help but our service is subject to availability.)
• Cancel their appointment immediately by emailing careers@qub.ac.uk to let us know.  Failure to do will deem the appointment as a ‘no show’ and will be treated as one of the student’s appointments.  Sanctions will apply in accordance with our Guidance Policy, which is available to view on our website at www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/CareerConsultations/