The University of Sheffield
Careers Service

Music

Arts and Humanities

Potential careers

The majority of recent graduates progressed into areas related to their degree subject. Of those moving directly into work, the majority were in the education sector, working as music teachers, often on a self-employed basis, but also in some cases employed directly by a school or a local authority schools music service. Other employment destinations included educational roles with orchestras, and in arts administration. Graduates also moved into roles in other sectors, including leisure management and IT services. Some graduates are working in non-graduate roles six months after graduation, mainly in customer service roles, developing further skills and experience in preparation for their graduate career.

The proportion of graduates entering postgraduate is study is considerably higher than the average for the institution as a whole. In most cases courses are linked to careers in the education sector, with large numbers taking primary or secondary teaching courses. Masters degrees in music are also a popular option, but individual students also took courses in management, politics, and journalism.

  • What graduates do
  • Understanding yourself
  • Your options
  • Vacancies

Short term and longer term career paths

Understanding what recent graduates from your subject have gone on to do can be a valuable source of information to help in career planning, but bear in mind that what you choose to do will be a personal decision based on many other factors, such as what you are good at, what you enjoy, and what you want from work.

Music - what University of Sheffield graduates do six months after graduation

This data was collected six months after graduation, so although useful, it doesn't provide a reliable indicator of longer term career paths. Some graduates are still in transition and may be in short term jobs, mainly in administrative, retail and customer service roles, developing further skills and experience while at the same time job hunting, travelling or taking time out.

Graduate case studies

Read about the longer term career paths of University of Sheffield Music graduates.

What do graduates do? - the national picture

The national Prospects website provides an overview of the graduate jobs market.

Our approach to employability

The University of Sheffield is committed to developing your employability.

Understanding your skills, interests and motivation

A degree is a widely accepted standard which endorses your ability across a range of sought after skills and competencies. This is in addition to the skills you will have developed outside of your degree through sport, leisure and work. Although you have a number of skills, you need to be aware of them and provide evidence to convince recruiters that you would be an asset to their organisation.

Skills acquired by Music graduates

Find out more about the extensive range of skills and personal qualities that you have developed as part of your degree. These skills explain why many employers have a positive view of Music graduates.

Gaining skill outside of your degree

Skills developed outside of study are just as important so don't overlook paid or voluntary work and other interests when thinking about what you have to offer. The develop skills section on our website can tell you more.

What jobs would suit me?

Match your skills and interests to potential occupations (part of the Prospects website).

See the bigger picture

A simple step by step outline to help you progress your career ideas plus a selection of resources to assist you in this process.

Profiling for success

This online assessment package provided by the Careers Service for University of Sheffield students and graduates, includes two personality type indicators to help you understand yourself.

Options with your subject - Music

Make a start by reading these sections of the Prospects website and develop ideas on how you can best use your degree.

There are a number of obvious jobs that you may wish to consider such as musician or music teacher. However, you should remember that a large proportion of vacancies advertised to graduates are open to any degree subject so you should be prepared to explore all your options.

Occupations

This section of our website provides links to professional bodies, organisations (many include vacancy databases) and journals. Use it to research your chosen sectors.

Explore types of jobs - Prospects

Detailed profiles for a wide range of occupations are available from Prospects and include job descriptions, case studies, salary and conditions, entry requirements, training, typical employers and vacancies.

These are our suggestions

We've chosen these because they are often seen as related to your area of study, or there is a pattern of graduates in your subject working in these roles. Of course, they are not the only options and there are many other graduate careers potentially open to you.

Search courses and research

If you are interested in postgraduate study, a good place to start is Prospects, which offer a database of courses and research opportunities.

myVacancies

We advertise over 5000 vacancy adverts each year for graduate jobs, placements, part-time, voluntary and vacation work. Students and graduates can register and login.

There are a large number of websites advertising graduate vacancies; some cover a broad range of occupations while others specialise in a particular sector. Increasingly, professional organisations and government bodies also include vacancies as part of their website.

Creative job searching

Many jobs are never advertised through the usual media so you may need to be creative in your searching. Talk to academic staff in your department about possible vacancy sources and useful contacts for networking if you wish to pursue a career related to your discipline.

Read the section of our website on Creative job searching to help you approach employers who do not normally advertise.

Finally

At this stage you are not seeking the perfect match, but rather choices which are as far as you can tell going to meet your broad objectives; your decision is probably not for life. Though some decisions can have long term consequences, others enable you to keep your options open until you feel more certain.

Use the menu on the left to explore your career options and plan your applications. We can help you to write your CV and covering letter and prepare for interviews.

Please call us on 0114 2220910 if you would like help with your career planning and would like to talk to a Careers Adviser or visit us at 388 Glossop Road on the corner of Durham Road.

Email Enquiry Service

We also offer an email service if you find it difficult to visit us at the Careers Service.