Appointments, Fair Use and Privacy Policy
Fair Use policy
- At particular times of the year, the Careers Service is very busy and it is unlikely that we will be able to offer you multiple appointments in a short time frame. Our aim is to support as many students as we can, therefore we may need to limit client’s ability to book appointments where instances of high usage occur.
- We aim to enable as many students as possible to meet a Careers Consultant within a reasonable period of time
- In order to be fair to our many users we limit any user to three contacts with a Careers Consultant in any four week period.
- In order to make the best use of your time and that of the Careers Consultant please ensure you have reviewed our website and Handshake Resources for information provided online that will help you.
Online appointments policy
The Careers Service endeavours to provides online appointments of a high enough quality for both clients and advisers to operate productively for the duration of the discussion. Very occasionally students or graduates may experience difficulties in a discussion because of the technology they are using (eg wifi connectivity, microphone capability) or because of very intrusive background noise in the location being used. This is particularly the case when for example in using a noisy café the client won’t hear the noise as intrusively as an adviser. Earbuds can exclude extraneous noise for the client whilst the microphone is transmitting it to the adviser. If the quality degrades sufficiently to make the discussion untenable for the Career Consultant they will:
- Make clear the difficulties being encountered.
- Offer an alternative time with them the same day, or one that is shortly forthcoming, if one is available.
- Refer the client to the Careers Service Enquiries Team to find a slot that can be booked ahead with another adviser so that the client is not disadvantaged by having to find a slot at a particularly busy time.
- Refer the client to the Enquiries team for alternative resources or help which may act as a help in the interim
- Remind the client that its in their best interests, and their responsibility, to find a better location for any subsequent appointments.
Privacy policy
See the University's Privacy Policy here
How we use your personal information
Data Collected
If you have a discussion with a Careers Adviser notes of the interview may be taken, use of these is
limited to Careers Service staff who have a legitimate interest in them for the purpose of carrying
out their contractual duties.
We provide an impartial and confidential service and information will not be shared beyond the Careers Service without client consent unless there is good reason to believe that client may be a risk to themselves or others.
Complaints handling policy
Complaints about Employers: application and interview process or whilst working
Occasionally our students and graduates are subjected to unfair, unreasonable or discriminatory treatment by an employer. If you feel you have been poorly or unfairly treated by an employer during the application or interview process, do contact the Careers Service. With your prior permission, or if we have heard from a number of other students making similar complaints about one employer, we are willing to take-up the case on your behalf.
Similarly, if you have undertaken an internship, work placement or started a graduate-level opportunity with an organisation that was advertised by the Careers Service and the role failed to match what was advertised, or you have been unfairly or unreasonably treated, please let us know.
Complaints about the Careers Service: our staff, our events, online information and resources
In addition to our routine feedback mechanisms (following personal career consultations or major events) you may wish to contact the Director director@careers.cam.ac.uk of the Service on some major failing, short-coming or other serious matter. The Director would welcome your comments and will respond as quickly as possible.
Failing a satisfactory resolution to your complaint, you can then approach the Chair of the Careers Service Syndicate, individual members of the Syndicate, and/or the University's Student Complaints team.
University of Cambridge Careers Service - July 2026