Will I get a job? What a qualification can and cannot promise

It is the question every student and parent asks, and the honest answer is that no college can promise you a job. Aspire does not guarantee one. What a programme can do is prepare you for particular roles and give you chances to gain experience. Here is what to look for.

What the programmes are designed for

Each programme lists the roles it is aimed at. The HND in Aviation Management, for example, lists roles such as Airline Operations Executive and Airport & Ground Operations Officer. The Certificate in Digital Marketing lists roles such as Digital Marketing Executive and Social Media Coordinator. These show what the qualification is aimed at, not what any one graduate will get.

Practical experience built in

• The Diploma in Aviation Management includes an internship (terms apply).
• The Diploma in Procurement & Supply Management closes with on-the-job training.
• The HND in International Travel & Tourism includes a Work Experience unit in year one.

Hear from graduates

Graduates have shared their stories, in their own words, on the testimonials page. They are individual stories, not statistics.

The employability figure

The college's home page publishes a graduate employability figure (80%+ within 6 months of graduating). It is worth asking admissions how a figure like that is worked out: which graduates are counted, what counts as employed, and over what period. That is a fair question to put to any college.

How to judge any college's promises

• Be wary of any guarantee of a job.
• Ask for the internship or work-experience arrangements in writing.
• Ask who awards the qualification and whether it is recognised where you want to work. See who awards each qualification.
• Ask to speak to someone who finished the programme you are considering.