Preparing for your career
Your time at Maastricht University (UM) is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop the skills you’ll need to start a successful professional career. Make the most out of your studies, strengthen your employability and make sure graduate recruiters know how to find you. UM Career Services offers the help you need, whether it’s online resources, training or individual guidance.
Use our online resources
Are you looking for a job? UM Career Services not only maintains a vacancies database but also provides an overview of current events and offers online tools for your development.
Canvas
UM Career Services is committed to providing help to students to develop the knowledge, skills and personal attributes they will need to gain suitable employment. In our Canvas course 'Your Personal & Professional Development', you can find an overview of our offer and 12 modules to enhance your employability.
Personal & Professional Development Portal
On the Personal & Professional Development Portal, you can find a broad range of opportunities to develop your personal and professional skills, such as:
- Resources, modules, training and events
- Vacancies for (side)jobs, internships and voluntary work
- Employability Scan for personal advice
Master Career Track
The Master Career Track (MCT) is designed to inspire and empower you to take charge of your career path in 3 interactive workshops. By completing the Master Career Track, you are prepared to kick-start your career after graduation. What can you expect from the track?
- Lecture 1: Get to know yourself
- Lecture 2: Explore the labour market
- Lecture 3: Enter the labour market
Find a job that suits you
Looking for jobs can be quite overwhelming. Where do you need to start? And how do you find a job that fits your qualities and needs? UM Career Services uses this 4-step model to give you a hand and guide you through the job-seeking process.
This video guides you through the different steps.
For questions on finding a job, contact UM Career Services via careerservices@maastrichtuniversity.nl or +31 43 38 85 263
Training offer for your personal and professional development
Besides your studies, there are numerous opportunities for personal and professional development. For example, you can learn how to deal with procrastination, discover which job suits you best or prepare for your first job interview. The Personal & Professional Development department supports you with a broad training offer.
All training courses are taught in English and consist of single sessions unless otherwise indicated. Our offer is intended for all UM students and participation in the training offer is free of charge until 6 months after graduation. Online training courses are facilitated via Zoom. Trainings organised on location take place at the Student Service Centre (Bonnefantenstraat 2).
Find out more about our training offers and register for your training.
Individual guidance
Plan your career and find the right balance between your skills, your ambitions and employers' demands. We offer several options to help you.
Quick Career Advice
Want to learn how to improve your cover letter, CV, or your profile on LinkedIn? Do you need info about where to find interesting online career links, modules, and information? Or do you just want a quick sparring session to test your career plans? Get an answer to your questions during a Quick Career Advice.
The Quick Career Advice (QCA) is an online session of about 15 minutes with one of the experts at UM Career Services. After the session you should have enough answers to progress further. If you have more questions or need more time, you can make a follow-up appointment straightaway. The Quick Career Advice service is free of charge, and you can make unlimited use of it.
Walk-in hours: Career & Wellbeing
If you have any questions regarding your personal or professional development but you’re not sure where to go for help, the Personal & Professional Development Student Team is here for you. Come visit our Walk-in hours: Career & Wellbeing office next to the information desk at the Inner City Library at Grote Looiersstraat 17 (GL17) - every Tuesday and Thursday between 13:00h and 15:00h (the office on the left of the front office).
During these walk-ins you can drop by and ask the Student Team members any questions you have regarding your personal or professional development. If you walk-in for questions about your career, bring your CV and letter of motivation so that we can give you tips for your professional future. If you still have questions after your visit, or you need an extended appointment, we can refer you to one of UM’s many support services.
Individual career counselling
Are you in doubt about your study choices and would you like to know what to do next? Would you like to find out more about your competencies, and how to present your qualities during an interview? Or are you still considering which direction to take after graduation, and eager to explore which job suits you best? The career advisors of UM Career Services know all about study and career choices and the labour market. They are happy to help you with all your career-related questions.
How does career counselling work? Career counselling starts with an initial consultation. If you wish to, you can opt for one to three follow-up appointments. The advisor will coach you. However, you will be set to work mostly through homework assignments. The aim is to support you in finding your own answers.
Timeslots for career counselling are added weekly, so please check our website regularly to find a suitable timeslot and to sign up for career counselling. The waiting time for career counselling is currently longer than usual. In the meantime, you can sign up for a Quick Career Advice or training or make use of the Online Career Modules on Canvas.
Good to know
Quick Career Advice, Walk-in Student Guidance and individual career counselling are for all UM students. We kindly refer PhDs to the Staff Career Centre.
Questions? You can contact UM Career Services via careerservices@maastrichtuniversity.nl or +31 43 388 5232