Christmas Closure Information

Our campuses close on Friday 20th December and re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2025 for the Christmas Break.

Students will return to timetabled lessons on Monday 6th January 2025.

For information on term dates and enquiries please visit our information page using the button below.

Careers Advice

Good careers advice can make a positive difference to a student’s aspirations and motivation whilst at college. It can be instrumental in increasing their self-confidence and enable them to discover opportunities they never would have considered.

Based at our Colchester Campus, Colchester Institute’s team of careers advisers provide information, advice and guidance to enable their students to make informed decisions about their future and help find the best job or career possible for them. Our advisers have a wealth of experience and hold Level 7 guidance qualifications.

If you are still at school we recommend that you contact your school careers adviser for help about your future pathway.

It can be confusing to plan your next step after leaving school as there are so many different options to choose from. To help you get started please explore our useful links.

Careers Advice and Guidance

Located at our Colchester Campus, the Careers team are available Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5pm and Fridays 8:30am – 4:30pm.

Help and support is available for a wide range of areas including:

Career choice
Course choice
Progression Routes
Apprenticeships
Choosing and applying for university
Preparation for employment

One to one impartial guidance interviews are available as well as a daily drop-in service at our careers centre located next to main reception. Careers software is available to help students choose and research suitable careers.

The College holds the matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services. This is the Department for Education’s (DfE) standard for ensuring the quality of the delivery of information, advice and guidance is of the highest quality.

https://matrixstandard.com/

If you have a question or feedback for the careers team or if you are an employer  and would like to become involved with our Careers Programme, please contact us using the form below.

We value all feedback on our Careers Information Advice and Guidance services.

Louise Cantrill-Godden
Operational Careers Leader
Careers@colchester.ac.uk
01206 712679

Careers Programme

The College offers a rich and varied CEIAG (careers education, information, advice and guidance) programme which is based upon the Gatsby Foundation’s Good Career Guidance benchmarks. Details of which can be found here:

If you have a question or feedback for the careers team or if you are an employer  and would like to become involved with our Careers Programme, please contact us using the form below.

We value all feedback on our Careers Information Advice and Guidance services.

Louise Cantrill-Godden
Operational Careers Leader
Careers@colchester.ac.uk
01206 712679

Ask a Question

If you have a question or feedback for the careers team or if you are an employer  and would like to become involved with our Careers Programme, please contact us using the form below.

We value all feedback on our Careers Information Advice and Guidance services.

Louise Cantrill-Godden
Operational Careers Leader
Careers@colchester.ac.uk
01206 712679

Useful Links

Find out what a job involves and if it’s right for you.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/careers

The world of work explained with advice from people who’ve found the right path for them.

Higher Education

UCAS

The organisation responsible for managing applications to Higher Education courses in the UK.

Find the right course and university for you: https://www.whatuni.com/

Search and compare undergraduate courses in the UK: https://discoveruni.gov.uk/

Apprenticeships

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/

Apprenticeships explained

https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

Alternative paths to university, including apprenticeship and volunteering opportunities.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Search for an apprenticeship in England

Employability

https://barclayslifeskills.com/young-people/

Preparation for the world of work

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/

Giving young people skills, careers support and tools to fulfil their potential

https://greateressexcareershub.co.uk/

Working with schools, colleges and employers to help every young person find their best next step

If you have a question or feedback for the careers team or if you are an employer  and would like to become involved with our Careers Programme, please contact us using the form below.

We value all feedback on our Careers Information Advice and Guidance services.

Louise Cantrill-Godden
Operational Careers Leader
Careers@colchester.ac.uk
01206 712679

Careerometer: Job Comparison Tool

Start by typing in a job that you might be interested in and then select a match from the list to see the data. You can then include a second choice to compare the compare key information about the different jobs – including salary, working hours etc.

Use the Careerometer below to explore and compare your job ideas and help you make your course choice.

Skillsometer: Discover what jobs you might do in the future

This is a quiz that can help you figure out what you want to do in the future. After you start the quiz, you will be shown a series of cards with statements.

You will be presented with a series of statements. For each statement, please think about whether you would like or have an interest in doing this in a future job. Select the emoji that represents what you think. At the end, you will be given some ideas about jobs linked to what you would like to do.

If you wish to start again please refresh the page.