BIMM University

Post: Careers Advisor
Reporting to: Careers Manager
Contractual Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. You will occasionally be required to work evenings and weekends. You may also be called upon to support at up to 4 open days / events per year for which TOIL can be claimed.

A University for the Creative Industries

BIMM University provides an extensive range of courses in modern music, performing arts, and filmmaking to over 9,000 students across 15 colleges in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. We are committed to providing the highest quality creative arts education, allowing students to maximise their career potential.

BIMM University comprises BIMM Institute, Institute for Contemporary Theatre, Performers College, Northern Ballet School, and Screen and Film School. This wide network of colleges provides unique opportunities for students to collaborate creatively on projects with others working in music, performing arts, and film.

For 40 years, we’ve equipped our students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the demands of the creative industries – and graduate feeling industry-ready.

Beyond academic life, BIMM University offers a community built on a shared passion, creativity, and belief system. Our inclusive culture is at the core of everything we do, binding us together and driving us forward.

Our Purpose, Vision, and Values

Purpose:
To shape the future of the creative industries

Vision:
To redefine creative industries education for the benefit of all, giving students from every background the skills and opportunities to thrive in their future careers.

Values:
Our values are at the core of our success; Believe in Everyone, Challenge the Norm, Grow Together, Own It and Do the Right Thing.

Job Description

Careers Advisors are required to prepare students and graduates for future employment, further study and a long-term professional career in the creative industries.

Working closely with Careers Managers and academic teams to ensure that all routes to graduate employment, including creative portfolio and freelance pathways, are understood by students to increase their chances of success.

Our versatile approach to employability involves working with trusted industry partners to provide real-world, hands-on work experience placements, projects, performances and productions which enhance employability throughout a students’ time at BIMM University.

We also employ a unique approach to sourcing talent for entry level work called Talent Match, a free jobs matching service for the creative industries. Careers teams offer Talent Match as a service to all graduates for the first 18 months, working closely with the Head of Talent and Heads of Music, Film or Performing Arts to help secure progression into employment.

After 18 months, the Alumni team takes over responsibility for careers advice and guidance as well as enhancing engagement and continued communication.

Careers Advisors are regionally located to be close to our students and recent alumni (BIMM placement year, final year and graduates up till 18 months) to support with advice and guidance and to prepare for a career within the creative industries. Careers Advisor also support Careers Managers and the Head of Talent, Head of Film, Music and Performing Arts to source candidates for opportunities when they arise.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide an excellent service at all times, ensuring a professional standard of delivery to students, clients and industry partners.
• Support the Careers Manager in building and maintaining local, regional and national contacts to create an industry network that secures jobs and internships for BIMM University students and graduates.
• Support the Careers Manager and Heads of Film, Music and Performing Arts to promote creative development programmes of activity and opportunities to engage with employment or freelance advice.
• Maintaining the Applicant Tracking system (currently Bullhorn) with the most up to date candidate, client and vacancy information.
• Providing 1:1’s advising on a range of employability support including CV’s, cover letters, interview advice etc.
• Write engaging ad copy and social media posts to attract candidates for roles.
• Act on job alerts shared via the ATS system, preparing and shortlisting relevant candidates against that role to support the Careers Manger and Head of Talent and setting up interview / audition days.
• Support students and graduates through the recruitment process so that they find a suitable work placement, freelance creative opportunity or paid role within the industry.
• Assisting with career events held either on campus or externally.
• Track and record the number of student tutorials per month.
• Monitor and record agreed KPIs, including but not exclusively: numbers of companies, candidates, opportunities worked and successful work placements.
• Promote equity, diversity and inclusion at all times. Take proactive measures to increase access and participation in all Careers and Enterprise activities and employability services.

Person Specification

The postholder will be a collaborative professional with experience in Careers and Enterprise, who is passionate about driving positive outcomes for students.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in a Careers / Employability role in a HE setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of current Careers and Employability practices.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and establish positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Highly organised and comfortable managing a full and varied workload. • Flexible and adaptable.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong digital literacy, including Microsoft Office.

 Desirable Criteria

• Degree or professional qualification in a relevant subject.
• Data collection and reporting skills.

NB: This is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities of this post. The post holder may be required to carry out other duties in keeping with the nature of the post as directed by and agreed with their line manager.