Careers Service FAQ

Our aim is to help students with all aspects of their career journey, from those who have no ideas about what to do next through making applications, attending interviews and negotiating the job offer. There are a number of ways in which we do this:

• One-to-one guidance sessions: 15 minute sessions with a consultant to discuss any career-related issues
• Career discussions: longer sessions to discuss career planning
• Practice interviews: how to respond to questions, how best to present yourself and other interview-related concerns
• CV checks: review of your CV or application form
• Information: a library of careers information aimed at SOAS students

For further details about our service please see Careers Service

Call us on 020 7898 4115, email careers@soas.ac.uk, or come into the Careers Service (SL62) on the day, anytime after we open, to sign up for a guidance appointment. They are held Monday to Friday. Each session lasts 15 minutes. We do not take advance bookings unless there is an exceptional reason.

Students and graduates are generally not able to pre-book guidance appointments, unless there is an exceptional circumstance (e.g. disability, childcare, work commitments, etc) . All appointments must be booked the morning of the day you wish to be seen by visiting the Careers Service (SL62), emailing careers@soas.ac.uk or by phoning 020 7898 4115. Appointments are available Monday to Friday.

In order to be recommended for a careers discussion, you must first meet with a consultant for a guidance session. 

If the consultant thinks that you would benefit from a longer discussion, you will be referred to a careers discussion. You will then be sent an email with information about CareersZONE, and will be able to book your own appointment by completing an online form.

You must first have an actual interview arranged in order to be seen by a consultant. The Careers Service will refer you for a Practice Interview via CareersZONE. You will then be sent an email with information on how to book your appointment, and you will be asked to attach your CV/cover letter or completed application form, job description, person specification and if possible the url for the job posting. You need to give us at least 48 hours prior to the appointment in order for us to prepare.

Please contact careers@soas.ac.uk for further information.

We offer CV checks during Application Advice appointments from 2-4pm Monday-Friday (term-time only). Each session lasts 15 minutes. Please email careers@soas.ac.uk, or phone 0207 898 4115, or drop into the Careers Service (SL62) to book. During vacations, CVs can be checked as part of a guidance appointment.

Please ensure that you have a printed copy of your CV before coming in for your appointment and that you have a specific job that you are applying for.

All job vacancies, internships and volunteering opportunities are posted onto CareersZONE If you are graduate from before 2016 and you are unable to access the careers management system, please contact SOAS Careers on 020 7898 4115 or email careers@soas.ac.uk

There is further information on job vacancies, internships and volunteering on MySOAS Student.

We have created a section on MySOAS Student for International Students. If you are unable to access this, please contact Careers on 020 7898 4115, or email careers@soas.ac.uk

If you are a current student, please go to MySOAS Student and log-in using your student ID and password.

Once logged in, you will see Careers as a tab on the top of the page. You will find the following careers-related information:

• How to find work in different sectors, how to use your degree, and working overseas information in the Explore your future section
• Postgraduate study information
• Information on internships and volunteering 
• How to make successful applications

MySOAS Student is an excellent resource for SOAS students so please take the time to check it out!

If you are a SOAS Alum, you will find lots of careers information and resources, including SOAS specific information, via the Career Discovery feed on CareersZONE.

There are a few ways in which you can work at SOAS:

• SOAS Human Resources Department advertises vacancies, including library work
• SOAS Student Union advertises vacancies in their shops and in the bar on their website
• SOAS Academic Development Directorate employs Student Ambassadors mainly to work at Open Days to help with registration, run Campus and Accommodation Tours, and just generally be around to answer any questions prospective students might have

Visit CareersZONE and search the database of internships and volunteering opportunities. We also have internships and volunteering information on MySOAS Student.

We have sections in the Careers Service (SL62) and on MySOAS Student dedicated to funding for students. Please come and visit us to have a look at what help we can offer, such as free resources and books you can borrow.

We offer various events to students including job fairs, careers skills workshops, employer presentations and much more.

All events are advertised on CareersZONE - please register your place through this.

SOAS Alumni can now use the Careers Service free of charge. If you graduated before 2016, please contact Careers and then we will send you a link to register with CareersZONE.

If you have any queries, please contact careers@soas.ac.uk or phone 020 7898 4115.