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Oxford, United Kingdom

World-class research, unwritten rules.

Oxford's universities, hospitals and science spinouts hire in ways that are obvious to insiders and invisible to everybody else.

Session length
30 minutes
Cost to a mentee
Free
Local time zone
GMT/BST
Who books a session in Oxford

The people who arrive stuck.

Students and recent graduates

Applying into universities and research and biotech and life sciences around Oxford against people who already had someone make the call for them.

Job seekers who keep reaching the last round

Strong applications, no useful feedback, and no one in Oxford who can say what the shortlist actually turns on.

People early in a job here

First or second role in Oxford, working hard, with nobody explaining how progression or pay is decided.

Career changers

Moving out of publishing and education or into it, with a CV that still reads like the last job rather than the next one.

Mentors you can be matched with

The fields our mentors work in.

Mentors volunteer 30 minutes. Matching is cross-border, so a mentor outside the city is normal and often the point.

  • Universities and research

  • Biotech and life sciences

  • Publishing and education

  • Technology and deep tech

  • Health and NHS careers

  • Professional services

How a session works in Oxford

Four steps, one half hour.

  1. 01

    Tell us what you are stuck on

    A short sign-up: where you are, what you want next, and the one thing blocking it.

  2. 02

    We match you

    You are matched with a mentor who has done the job you are aiming at, wherever in the network they sit.

  3. 03

    Pick a time that suits you

    Times are shown in GMT/BST, so a mentor in another country never means an awkward hour for you.

  4. 04

    Thirty minutes on video

    Free to you, on the platform, with a written summary of what to do next.

What Oxford mentees ask about

The questions we hear most in Oxford.

These come up again and again from people sitting in Oxford, whatever stage they are at.

  • How do I get into universities and research here without knowing anyone in it?

  • Is biotech and life sciences worth moving into, and what does the first year really look like?

  • What does a strong application for publishing and education look like from Oxford?

  • Should I stay in Oxford, move, or work remotely for an employer somewhere else?

  • How do I explain my Oxford experience to an employer who has never heard of my last one?

Partners in Oxford

Who funds the sessions here.

  • Employers running Give across their workforce, with people mentoring from Oxford and beyond

  • Universities and colleges buying career access for students in and around Oxford

  • Local authorities with social value targets

  • Employers running Redirect for the candidates they turn down

Ready to start in Oxford?

Book a free 30-minute session, or tell us what you need and we will match you with a mentor who does the job you are aiming at.

Questions

The things people ask first.

Do I have to live in Oxford to book?

No. Matching is cross-border, so a mentor is chosen for the job they do rather than the city they sit in.

Is it really free?

Free to you. Sessions are funded by our employer, university and public-sector partners.

How soon can I get a session?

Sign up, tell us what you are stuck on, and pick a slot in GMT/BST once you are matched.

Can I be matched with someone in universities and research?

Yes. Universities and research is one of the areas Oxford mentees ask about most, and mentors in it volunteer across the network.

Will my mentor understand the Oxford job market?

Often, yes. Where the better match sits elsewhere, you still get someone who does the job you are aiming at, and the advice is set against what you are facing in Oxford.

Get unstuck from Oxford.

Thirty minutes with someone who has already done it. Free to you, wherever you are sitting.