Graduate Career Pathways: case studies to inspire undergraduate career development planning

The focus of this poster is to present the mid project update of a University teaching and learning funded research project.
Graduate Career Pathways: case studies to inspire undergraduate career development planning
The aim of this project is to investigate how graduate role models might be used to facilitate career planning within undergraduate Personal Development Planning (PDP).
The Fashion and Textiles Buying Management academic team are aware of significant career progression and success of graduates from the course. Graduates from 3 to 5 years ago are now entering senior positions and have the opportunity to offer significant insight and support to current undergraduates. This bid has enabled contacts to be developed into graduate biographies and career paths supported by video clip interviews. Additionally an important part of the value of the selected role models is that they demonstrate a diversity of opportunity and the possibility of attainment for those similar to them (Singh et al 2006:68) that can be reflected on within PDP.
Additional benefits of the project are the resources will make a significant contribution to the available marketing resources of the course for the purposes of recruitment as well as fostering recognition and credibility of the course with these major employers.
Methodology/Approach:
Case studies are a long-established tool within business and make for the succinct presentation of data in a familiar format. The compiled resources from this project will be used by students to undertake focused and personalised career planning (Billet & Henderson, 2011:16). Students would make use of the case studies as role models to construct their ideal, or “possible” selves based on their own developing needs and goals (Gibson, D.E. 2004). The writing of the case studies will be undertaken by Natalie Dawson, alumnus of the course, currently working at WWB (Womenswear Buyer, part of Ras Publications). This is seen as key to setting an appropriate and accessible tone to the case studies.