From Campus to Careers

Thinking about using a recruitment agency to find a part-time job, placement, or graduate role - but not sure where to start? 🤔

In this episode of The Workshop -  part of the From Campus to Careers Podcast by the Aston University Careers and Placements Team - we’re joined by Heather Duncan, Director at BuildForce Solutions. She shares her insider knowledge from over eight years in recruitment. Heather reveals how agencies really work, what makes a candidate stand out, and the common mistakes students should avoid when applying for roles.

We cover:
💼 How recruitment agencies support students and graduates in finding work
🧭 What to expect from the process when you first sign up
💬 Tips for building strong relationships with recruiters
🚫 Common pitfalls to avoid when applying through agencies
🤖 How AI and technology are changing the recruitment landscape
🌟 Heather’s own career journey and advice for students starting out

Whether you’re applying for your first placement or ready to step into a graduate role, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you approach recruitment agencies with confidence and get results.

About The Workshop:
The Workshop is our practical mini-series where we share step-by-step guides and expert insights to help you stand out and succeed throughout your career journey.

👇 Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Meet Heather from Buildforce Solutions
01:41 Benefits of working with a recruitment agency
02:52 Why a placement year is so valuable
05:30 What to expect when working with an agency
06:38 How to stand out to recruiters and avoiding common mistakes
08:47 Using AI effectively for applications and in the workplace
12:09 How an agency will support you through the recruitment process
15:25 Top tips for interviews
17:54 Using LinkedIn
19:31 What type of job opportunities Buildforce offer and other agencies
21:23 Key takeaway/advice to younger self
23:28 Heather is looking for a graduate!

Follow Heather: linkedin.com/in/heather-duncanbuildforce

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

We took our From Campus to Careers Podcast on the road to The Big Careers Fair, where over 70 top employers - including names like Goldman Sachs, JLR, and British Airways - came to meet Aston students.

In this special episode, we chat to employers, students, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor to uncover:

💬 What a Careers Fair experience is typically like
🎓 How students can make the most of careers fairs and networking events
💡 Tips for standing out and building connections that lead to real opportunities

Whether you’re preparing for your next careers fair, looking for a placement or graduate roles, or just want tips to boost your employability, this episode is packed with real insights from both sides of the hiring table.

👇 Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Osama Khan - Aston Deputy Vice-Chancellor
07:49 Aston Student Experiences of the fair
25:40 Employer Experiences of the fair
36:40 Outro

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

Want to make your LinkedIn profile shine and get noticed by employers? 🚀

In this episode of The Workshop - part of the 'From Campus to Careers Podcast' by the Aston University Careers and Placements Team - host Andy Cooper chats with Nabeeda Bakali-Abrar, Senior Customer Success Manager at LinkedIn and Aston alumna, about how to unlock the full potential of your LinkedIn profile.

Nabeeda shares her own inspiring journey from Aston student to working at LinkedIn, along with insider advice on:

✅ Showcasing your skills and experiences effectively
✅ Building a professional network that works for you
✅ Engaging with employers the right way
✅ Making your profile stand out to recruiters

Whether you’re just starting your LinkedIn journey or looking to take your profile to the next level, this episode is packed with practical, actionable tips to help you succeed.

About The Workshop:
The Workshop is our practical mini-series where we share step-by-step guides and expert insights to help you stand out and succeed throughout your career journey.

👇 Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:13 Meet Nabeeda
03:10 How LinkedIn has played a part in Nabeeda's Career Journey
05:42 How to start building a strong profile
07:59 What makes a profile stand out to employers? 
10:55 Engaging with Employers
12:40 Applying for Internships/Placements/Graduate Roles
16:10 The Future of LinkedIn

Follow Nabeeda: linkedin.com/in/nabeedabakaliabrar

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

This episode of the workshop mini-series covers a commonly misunderstood topic - cover letters. We discuss what a cover letter is, what it should look like and how and when it should be used. We also discuss speculative cover letters and what advantages these can have in the hidden jobs market.

To find more advice on cover letters, please visit our website. 

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

In the first episode of our workshop mini-series, we take a deep dive into the world of CVs. Starting with the basics, we discuss what a CV is and why it's important to have one. We also chat about the various types of CVs, as well as best practices around creating your own CV for a particular role, employer or industry.

For more advice on CVs, visit our website. 

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from the Leonard Cheshire Change100 scheme, who shares some valuable insights on how best to approach sharing your disability with an employer. We also chat about the Change100 scheme and how their internship opportunities can be of great benefit to students and graduates.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Change100 Internships
• Find Charlie on LinkedIn

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

Joining us on today's episode is our very own careers consultant, Samira. Together, we quizzed our special guest, Josh on how students should approach engaging with employers at virtual events. Josh works in the early talent recruitment team at GlaxoSmithKline and offers up some invaluable insights on how best to impress employers at virtual careers fairs and workshops.

Chat with Josh or one of his team from GSK at our upcoming virtual careers fair. Book your place on Aston Futures! 

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

We're back for the new academic year! This episode is perfect for any first year students just starting their journey at Aston. During the episode, we chat about all things Careers and Placements, as well as doing some myth-busting of common perceptions around careers.

All of the links to resources we mention in the episode can be found here:

• Careers and Placements website
• Online Tools
• Resource Library
• Careers and Placements blog 

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

In this episode, we're joined by Aston Alumni, Panashe Kativu.

She helps unpack what a career in research really looks like, talking about some of the challenges it presents, as well as the parts of it she loves.

If you're thinking about exploring research as an option after you graduate, make sure you give this episode a listen.

Find Panashe on LinkedIn

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers

In this episode, we're joined by Aston Alumni, Adil Delwar.

Adil helps unpack what a career as an entrepreneur really looks like, talking about some of the challenges it presents, as well as parts of it he loves.

If you're thinking about exploring starting your own business, this episode is a must-listen!

Find Adil on LinkedIn
Find out about Palm Life

Subscribe for more episodes of From Campus to Careers – your go-to podcast for honest, practical careers advice, inspiring student stories, and insights from top employers : https://careersandplacements.buzzsprout.com/

Follow Aston University Careers and Placements:
instagram.com/astonunicareers
linkedin.com/company/astonunicareers

aston.ac.uk/careers